Revelation 21:5

⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he

 

said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

 

When we read the word of God, he tells us in scripture that he makes all things new.  I have recently started to really let this marinate my soul.  I felt a desire to learn more about the truth he was trying to teach me.  My example was a connection with my love in watching those television shows that take those old beat up, rusting, oxidized, noise making and raggedy cars that were “in their time” the best of the best and are now junk. They take them and put a lot of muscle, time and love into slowly bringing it back to its original “New” look. I am infatuated with convertibles, I absolutely love the old school kind and I remember watching one episode when they were finished it was RIDICULOUS how amazing it looked.  It was a black 1957 Chevy Bel Air convertible and it was completely restored. BOOM! that was the key word restoration, this is what Jesus means by he makes all things new, but honestly I believe he also makes them better than the “original.”

Let us now look at our lives as that old beat up, rusty, oxidized loose nut and bolts 1957 Bel Air.  I am 39 years old and my soul feels, on many days, like its been through Hell and mostly because of decisions I have made in the dark.  I have constantly without anyone truly knowing beaten myself up over the years not allowing God’s love to embrace me.  I allowed a few of my childhood spiritual wounds to guide my life as my foundation and disguise my true identity in Christ.  The truth is I am “perfect” in design and in the image of Christ.  I do, however, fall short of his image which then puts the kinks, dents and scratches in my design.  I am human and there are flaws in our design which God knew and why he asked Jesus to be the ultimate Restorer.  All of our defects, if you will, come from someone who hurt us a long time ago or from a belief that we are truly worthless.  As you read the story of Jesus you realize he lived every moment in humility.  He allowed everything to happen to him, nothing was done to him that he didn’t allow, INCLUDING THE CROSS.  One whisper and all of humanity would have been wiped out.  He loved so much, constantly healing and transforming those who would cross his path and sometimes even those who were reaching through the crowds to just get a touch of the GOD/man.  He restores our beauty by opening ours eyes to the image we see of ourself(the old junker) and then exposing us to the way he see us(COMPLETELY RESTORED) shoot maybe even just a little better!!  When we surrender to him in humility you can see the shine of the Holy Spirit in our restoration.  Even your smile produces a ray of completeness that others will long for.  As Jesus is doing these works in us, slow and steady, we get back our innocence.

I lost my innocence at an early age.  What many people do not realize is the moment children are exposed to darkness or abuse they no longer have the ability to be just children.  They are now dealing with adult things and it causes severe spiritual, emotional and physical trauma.  When Jesus comes into our lives his goal is restoration and a return back to our innocence.  We react to the silliest of things in joy, we act goofy, our shame is removed and we can laugh, dance and sing like we should have as children before our innocence was taken.  I was fearful of my father when I was growing up.  That fear carried over through my teenage and young adult years.  However, God being the amazing God he is has not only restored me, but restored my relationship with my father.  We sat down over 10 years ago and shared all of our darkness, and in my forgiveness to him I learned he did many of the things that were done to him.  He is one of my best friends today.  I went my entire childhood without hearing a ” I love you” from him to hearing it every time we have spoken the last 10 years.  The beauty of restoration is when someone sees something made new, they want it and God did it for my dad too.  He loves Jesus and knows him well.  I have realized God has been yelling loudly at me that I have been restored and shows me more and more every day.  I want to tell you, my friends, when Jesus says he makes all things new(restored) IT IS TRUTH.  It took my stubborn, hard-headed self a lot more dents and bruises to accept this truth.  This past weekend’s experience at the Band of Brothers bootcamp showed me MEN, who have surrendered to Christ and have been restored, Made NEW!  I take a step back, drop to my knees and say, “Father I am yours!”Amen

P.S.
Hey Dad I am thankful for you
and that God made you my
Father(on Earth)
I Love You!

One Love, One King, All Christ!