The Hope of Restoration.

Restoration means to ‘be given back what has been lost, stolen, or taken away; be brought back to a former condition; be put back in a place, position, rank, etc.; be brought back to health, strength …being and use.’

Restoration is the process whereby God is at work within us— molding, shaping, like a potter molding his clay {Jer. 18}, like a master musician shaping the skill of her apprentice— the process oftentimes of Abba forging us in the fires of adversity, conforming us to the image of our Lord {Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18}.

Restoration means there is something deeper, truer, and more fundamental to our natures as those made “in the image of God” than original sin.  I call this ‘original glory.’  It was the glory we had when the world was new …before sin crept into the Story with death on its heels.  We were made for a world so far surpassing the one we presently inhabit there’s no comparison between the two, a world of beauty, intimacy, and adventure.  Mankind’s initial mandate being to “rule” and reign alongside our Creator, as intimate allies of the Almighty {Gen. 1:26-28}.  That world is on its way.  The world for which we were truly made will be restored, a “Kingdom” of “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” is coming!

The Hope of the Resurrection is the Hope of Restoration, the Hope of a New Creation of which Jesus is the “First-fruits” and Forerunner {1 Cor. 15:20b}, a “New Heavens and a New Earth” in which righteousness dwells {Rev. 21:1-4}.

One day we will dwell securely in the presence of our God, we will rule and reign alongside our King… and our hearts will be released into a Celebration of love, forgiveness and community of which the deepest intimacy in Time is barely a whisper.  So, take courage, my friends, take heart: one Day all your dreams really will come true.  One Day, in the words of our favorite fairy tales, we really will live happily ever-after… redeemed, restored, and renewed in the glorious freedom of our Savior-God.

“Then I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth, for the first Heaven and the first Earth had passed away….  I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the Throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His People, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed way.  He who was seated on the Throne said, ‘Behold, I am making everything new!,’” {Rev. 21:1-5a}.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
hjcommunity.org
Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously