Restoration

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Heaven must receive Him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.” Acts 3:19-21

Restoring furniture is very popular. Instead of buying a new piece for your home, you may choose to take something old and restore it. During its life, a piece of furniture may become faded, worn, or damaged. The paint may peel away, or upholstery may become faded and torn. What was once a beautiful piece in someone’s living room becomes a relic, destined for the trash pile.

But then the restorer comes along…someone who sees something of value in the old piece of furniture and desires to make it new again. Carefully, the old finishes are removed. Damaged wood is repaired. The fabric is cleaned or replaced. The structure is inspected. Hardware is replaced. And slowly, carefully, deliberately, old becomes new.

Remember that though we are broken by our sin, and damaged by our disobedience, God does not toss us aside. Instead, He looks at us as something of value to be restored. When we humble ourselves, repent, and give ourselves over to Jesus, God begins the process of restoring us to Himself. He wipes away the layers of sin and replaces them with His righteousness. He brings us back to the treasured condition of His creation, for His glory.

God, thank You that when I repent and call on You for salvation, You restore me to Yourself. You give me new life and a new purpose. You take what was damaged in me and make it whole, for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.