God’s vision for restoration 

Last year, I restored a weathered and beaten up kitchen cupboard that I’d been using as a workbench for 30+ years.  It took many hours and much effort!  While I remain delighted with the outcome, I regret not taking a BEFORE photo. When visitors see this sideboard AFTER the restoration, they often comment and ask questions about it. In spite of my best description, it’s impossible for them to imagine what it was like previously.

I love reading how Jesus restored people. The blind see and the deaf hear. The lame walk and the sick are made well. Lepers are cleansed and the unclean resume everyday life.  People are set from the unclean spirits. Funerals are turned into festivals. These are all examples of how Jesus will one day make everything right and new and whole again for all his people.

How can we be sure that Jesus will restore us? At the cross Jesus took everything about us that is broken… including the blame for all our mistakes and failures.  He died so that we can have life with him forever.  In rising to life again, Jesus proves that he can restore us, that he can make us new again. 

In Revelation chapter, we discover God’s vision for restoration.   

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared…  I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:1, 3-5a NLT)

By trusting and following Jesus, you and I can be part of God’s vision for restoration.

Pastor Rolly