Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, whose fractured friendship made headlines for decades, made amends in a tearful Players Only Monthly special that aired on NBA TV three years ago. Speaking about their reconciliation, Johnson said, “This has been a tremendous day. My wife, my mother, and my father have been saying y’all need to get back together. So, when everybody called, I said no question, we’re going to do this. He told Isiah, “You are my brother. Let me apologize to you if I hurt you—that we haven’t been together. God is good to bring us back together.”

Johnson and Thomas were close friends throughout the 1980s, but their high-profile bond collapsed after the two started to drift apart following a physical clash in the 1988 NBA Finals that saw the Los Angeles Lakers top the Detroit Pistons in seven games.

The word “to reconcile” means literally to exchange, to bring into a changed relationship. That’s what happened when Johnson and Thomas made amends. To be reconciled is to be restored to friendship or harmony. When old friends resolve their differences and restore their relationship, reconciliation occurs. It’s also what Paul teaches the Corinthians about a relationship with God.

2 Corinthians 6 – Don’t Delay

Toward the close of 2 Corinthians 5, Paul urged unbelievers to be reconciled to God (v. 20). Chapter 6 finishes his point, compelling people to respond to the grace of God. He quotes from Isaiah 49 in verse 2 when he urges people not to delay before responding to God’s offer of salvation.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are reconciled to God through Christ. He or she believes this happened when Christ died on the cross, satisfied God’s judgment, and made it possible for God’s enemies to find peace with Him. Our “reconciliation” to God involves the exercise of His grace and the forgiveness of our sins. The result of Jesus’ sacrifice is that our relationship has changed from enmity to friendship. We were God’s enemies but are now His friends. We were in a state of condemnation because of our sins, but now we are forgiven.

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