Philippians 1:6
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. – Paul of Tarsus
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – Jesus, Master Carpenter
Have you ever bought a house, car or anything with the intent of renovating it? A restoration is restoring something to its original intended glory! There is great cost, in this process- for the restorer and restored.
Let’s take a deeper look…. First, the restorer must have an eye and vision for the original intent of the subject. This is vital because of the great time, cost and love that will be required to complete the task. There will be unforeseen costs that come up which will threaten the restorers resolve. Day after day the restorer must keep the vision in view as he labors and counts the cost. He reminds himself over and over of the joy that will be his when his subject is complete.
I love buying something old, with good bones as they say, and bringing it back to life- to it’s original intent! Whether big project or small the joy is just as great and lasting. Years pass and thrill does not fade. You still love to show and tell- it never gets old to the restorer!
You see, the Spiritual life is a lot like the picture I have just painted with my words. God never intended for us to be broken-down and abandoned in our sin – struggling for life! Wondering why we were born and what our purpose is. His original intent has been lost, not by Him, but by us! That’s right, even the religious have lost their way. Stuck on the scrap heap of striving. Always striving to, in reality, save themselves!
Here’s the reality! God has not lost His vision, nor forgotten His Original Intent. He is open for business, so to speak, and is looking for souls willing to go through the restoration process. The beautiful thing for us is – we don’t have to pay a cent to be chosen, nor do we need to ” clean up” to be chosen- to make ourselves look worthy of being selected. He has the vision and all the resources to bring out our original glory- As He intended from the beginning. By now you should know my favorite quote- The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive! – St. Irenaeus. Or, let’s say it this way… The Glory of the Restorer is Man Fully Restored!
The question for you is two-fold. One, will you accept the Restorers free offer through Jesus’ perfect work on the cross? And Two- Will you then trust Him to do all the restoring work necessary? Will you, time and again,keep in mind and heart how much He loves you and the price He paid and the commitment He has made to finish the restoration process? He promises to finish, to restore you to your original Glory- walking splendidly with your Creator! Free, healed, holy and wholly His. Because He paid the Ultimate price- His own Life! So stop squirming under the pain of the restoration process. Let Him have complete reign for He knows what He is doing! He created you for Glory!
For those of you who have not yet fully commited your life to Gods free restoration- What are you waiting for? How bad does life have to get before you say Yes to the Great Restorer of Souls?
Peace, Jonathan
God Has Chosen Me- From Streams in the Desert
“I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isa. 48:10).
Does not the Word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yes, is it not an asbestos armor, against which the heat has no power? Let the affliction come–God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayest stride in at my door; but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayest intrude; but I have a balsam ready–God has chosen me. Whatever befall me in this vale of tears, I know that He has chosen me.
Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, His presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. “Fear not, for I am with thee,” is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in “the furnace of affliction.” –C. H. Spurgeon
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Pain’s furnace heat within me quivers, God’s breath upon the flame doth blow; And all my heart in anguish shivers And trembles at the fiery glow; And yet I whisper, “As God will!” And in the hottest fire hold still.
He comes and lays my heart, all heated, On the hard anvil, minded so Into His own fair shape to beat it With His great hammer, blow on blow; And yet I whisper, “As God will!” And at His heaviest blows hold still.
He takes my softened heart and beats it; The sparks fly off at every blow; He turns it o’er and o’er and heats it, And lets it cool, and makes it glow; And yet I whisper, “As God will!” And in His mighty hand hold still.
Why should I murmur? for the sorrow Thus only longer-lived would be; The end may come, and will tomorrow, When God has done His work in me; So I say trusting, “As God will!” And, trusting to the end, hold still. –Julius Sturm
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The burden of suffering seems a tombstone hung about our necks, while in reality it is only the weight which is necessary to keep down the diver while he is hunting for pearls. –Richter
