Our cat Moses (yes, that’s his real name) likes to sit in the sun on top of a solid wood vanity under a window sill in our spare bedroom. It’s a neutral brown wood with soft corners. I believe it’s maple. I love that vanity because there’s just something pleasing to the eye about its simple design.
I bought it at a yard sale about 40 years ago. It was damaged, some of the sides were split, the drawers were stuck, and it had a dark stain on it that was all cracked and crinkled. But after several weeks of dedication and elbow grease, I restored that old vanity. I brought it back to life, only prettier and better than it had been before. Restoration feels good.
Do you ever wish it was that easy to restore what’s broken inside of us? Maybe it’s some deep seated pain, or a relationship, a wounded spirit, or an addiction. Maybe it’s a dysfunction that you can’t overcome or a sin that you can’t break away from.
When Moses (not our cat, but the guy in the Bible) was receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, he came down from the mountain to see that the Israelites had built a golden calf idol. For those responsible, this is what happened:
“The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day [slew] about three thousand (3000) people” (Exodus 32:28).
The PEOPLE HAD BROKEN covenant with God, and so they suffered the consequences of their actions. But, because God is a GOD OF RESTORATION, He brings His grace full circle when Peter preached the first Christian sermon in Jerusalem after Jesus had died and risen, as a way to RESTORE us to the covenant with God that we had broken.
“Those who accepted the message [of salvation in Christ Jesus] were baptized, and about three thousand (3000) were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:41).
Do you see what God just did? 3000 unrighteous are condemned and then 3000 are made righteous through Christ. Those matching numbers are not a coincidence. God is not only showing us that we are broken, but it is by our own sin-nature that we are broken. However, HE has overcome sin and Jesus has RESTORED us to God. How awesome is that?
When Adam and Eve CHOSE to disobey God in the Garden of Eden, they BROKE their intimate bond with their Creator, and so they had to suffer the consequences of their actions:
“So the Lord God banished [Adam, and Eve] from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken [created]” (Genesis 3:23).
But from the SIN of Genesis we fast forward to Revelation and see GOD’S ULTIMATE RESTORATION:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them'” (Revelation 21:3a).
God took us from the Garden, but then restores us to the Garden. We are BROKEN BY SIN and are RESTORED BY GRACE.
The bottom line is this… without Christ we are LIVING AS BROKEN people. But with Christ, we CAN LIVE RESTORED, because God is a GOD OF RESTORATION. However, for Him to do His work in us, we have to willingly SURRENDER OUR BROKENNESS to Him.
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Own your brokenness, then hand it over to God. LIVE RESTORED!
God bless you all, and we hope to see you Sunday!
