Better Than Before

Read: Isaiah 58:11-12

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58:12, NIV

IN WORD

A careful reading of Scripture will show us that God not only longs to redeem us, He wants to restore us too. The church in general has not expressed that message clearly over the centuries, but it’s true. God is a repairer at heart.

That means it’s okay to pray for missed opportunities to come around again, even if they come around in another form. It’s okay to ask for the restoration of things lost. It’s vital to seek not only forgiveness but reconciliation, not only healing but health, not only survival but thriving. Just as God promised ancient Israelites that they would return from captivity and prosper—and that the glory of the new Temple would be greater than the glory of the old one (Haggai 2:9)—He wants us to express His best to the world around us. He can make up for years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) and place His people in higher, better places than ever before. He fills us with hope.

Many Christians don’t know that. Some think the goal of redemption and restoration is to return us to our pre-fallen state—innocent like Adam and Eve. But God isn’t turning back the clock. In His economy, every loss can be followed by a gain that catapults us further than before. Adam was without sin, but he wasn’t God. We can have God’s own Spirit living within us. Where redeemed human beings end up is far better than where we began. And the new heaven and new earth will far exceed the old ones.

IN DEED

Know the heart of God well enough to hope beyond measure. Place no restraint on your expectations for what He is doing with you and those around you. Participate in the process; seek His restoration everywhere and in everyone. Yes, the process may be hard, but the outcome is more beautiful than you can imagine. Why? Because you and this world are a restoration project, and God is a master craftsman. And you are designed to be like Him.

ADDITIONAL READING: Haggai 2:6-9

When I say “hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come,” I should be adding in my mind the words “in and through me.”

J. I. PACKER