Restoration

The Scripture is replete with passages and language that speaks of God restoring His people (Psa. 23:30, 51:12; Jer. 30:17; Matt. 11; Heb. 4).  In fact, the purpose of the final advent and second coming will be a perfect restoration of His Church.  Fortunately, God intends and desires to restore His children, the remnant of Israel, to their rightful holy inheritance in Christ Jesus all the time.

Restoration, at its root, deals with returning something to its original intended form and ability.  For this to occur one very basic assertion must be made.  Restoration requires that you have been in right standing once before.  The necessary condition for restoration is that you are returning to a previous state.  Therefore, it would be correct to state that rebirth presupposes restoration.

There are many ways that someone is restored, but they can be compressed into the three parts of man: body, mind, and soul.  The Holy Spirit works in any and all of these areas to restore the believer to previous states of being.

In regards to our bodies, we are to be restored not necessarily in perfect health but at least in reasonable health.  This is not to say that we will not ever face pain and suffering because pain and suffering is an essential element in the growth of all Christians.  Rather, we can be restored to usability and our pain may be relieved.  In regards to our minds, we are to be restored to reasonable faculties.  Again, as we age, our bodies and minds do deteriorate, but God can and does restore us to previous versions of ourselves in Him.

Most importantly though, God restores backsliding believers to previous states of grace.  This is essential.  Restoration for the believer must start with confession and repentance; restoration is an outpouring of the reconciliation between us and God.  In this way, God not only revives sullen believers to joy, He also renews their salvation continually.  Restoration should then be a continual cycle of repentance and reconciliation.  Restoration is more than just health and wealth; it is God pouring His grace into us by His Holy Spirit.

Part and parcel to this dialogue is the assertion that God wants to restore us.  He loves to lavish His goodness upon His children (1 John 3:1).  God wants us to pray for restoration.  In some way, our prayer for restoration releases it.  God, knowing what we want and need before we pray, desires for us to pray to Him for restoration (Matt. 6:8).  The Lord is rich in dishing out His blessings upon His children, we just need to ask.  If and when we need to be restored, we need to ask and ask in faith.  When we do, God will restore us.