Because of the finished work of Christ on the cross, we, who receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, are restored. For most of us, I would guess the word “restoration” brings to mind the process of repairing a crumbling, ruined building to its former glory. Restoration in a spiritual sense is similar, only on a much broader scale. Due to The Fall, our enemy, Satan, as well as our flesh (old self) and the world (its harmful systems and culture), do their best to damage and destroy the things valuable to us. The good news is that they don’t have the last word, and when we give our hurts, habits, and hang-ups to the Lord, He restores everything stolen from us due to sin.
As a result of The Fall, sin, through the world, the flesh, and the devil destroys God’s original design and replaces what God intended for us, joy and peace, with sorrow and discontentment. However, we don’t have to continue down this hopeless path. Jesus came to restore.
Our restoration is made possible because Christ has redeemed us. Redemption is a legal term that was often used in the Roman slave trade and describes Jesus’ trading His life on the cross for ours. Paul writes about this in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Those who remain apart from Christ, in sin, will die both physically and eternally, whereas those who receive Christ, believers, are assured eternal life. “Wages” implies that the punishment for sin is what one has earned and what one deserves. “Free gift” is the opposite of something one deserves and speaks to the loving work of Christ on the cross, dying in our stead. As we place our faith in Him, we’re redeemed. Jesus purchased our deliverance from bondage on the cross; He has redeemed us; and, as a result, restores us.
Due to Christ’s death and resurrection, those who receive Him are restored to the position of God’s original intent in creation (Romans 4:25). As we look at what it means to be restored, it’s helpful to look at Colossians 1:13-14, “Jesus has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” In Christ, we, believers, have been delivered “from the domain of darkness,” from the realm of Satan and the powers of evil, into “the kingdom of His beloved Son.” This is the same kingdom as the “kingdom of God” or the “kingdom of heaven,” as mentioned by Jesus in the Gospels and elsewhere in Scripture.
The full manifestation of God’s kingdom will be established when Christ returns. When Christ returns, God will restore everything. I don’t think any of us would argue that it would take a pretty wild, astonishing, and breathtaking hope to overcome the agony and trauma in the world. However, we can have such hope because God will restore and make everything right.
The climax of the entire Bible takes place with these words, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). Jesus is in heaven until the promised day when God will “restore everything” or “until the time for the final restoration of all things.” Understanding this is a game-changer. When Christ returns, God will restore the earth, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1).
This verse speaks of eliminating the fatal infection of evil in the cosmic order and gives way to God’s creation of a new cosmic order where sin, suffering, and death are forever banished. Think about it. Christ has brought about our redemption and restoration that begins here and now and will be fully experienced in the unforeseeable future.
There are three truths we all need to know about restoration. First, restoration is a gift of God. God’s capacity to restore a life is beyond our understanding, but because of Christ, not our reach. Secondly, restoration is part of God’s healing process for us. God’s healing in our lives from hurts, habits, and hang-ups begins when we come to Jesus and will be fully realized when we see Christ face-to-face. Thirdly, restoration is the work of God’s family in cooperation with Him. As God’s family, who have been redeemed and restored, we are given the power and privilege of reflecting Christ’s love and sharing His message with others in the hope that they, too, will be restored as they receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. These three truths are worth remembering.
The reality of Christ’s restorative work in our lives today and the complete restoration of all things in the future should profoundly impact how we live and think. How we think and talk about our future profoundly affects our everyday experiences. When we know God is restoring us and will completely restore all things, knowing great and glorious goodness is coming to us, we gain a hope that will see us through any and everything today.
The world is aching for hope. We, believers, have the most breathtaking hope to offer – Jesus Christ, the Restorer of all things (Hebrews 6:19). Jesus, our Restorer, broke the barrier between God and each of us when He died, atoning for our sins and repairing our relationship with God that had been broken by sin. The restorative work of God in a believer’s life results from Christ’s loving sacrifice. I pray that if you have never understood or accepted this, you will do so today. I pray for each of us that this truth penetrates our hearts and draws us to Jesus Christ, where we find acceptance, forgiveness, wholeness, and restoration. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!