Restoration

Restoration

Joel 2

Restoration is a common theme today. There are songs and sermons about restoration everywhere. including this one.

Everybody wants to be restored, to be repaid, re-established. We all desire to be restored to what was there before and more.

Sometimes, we pray for restoration so that we can brag in front of our enemies and shove it down their throats.

To declare what GOD has done for us is a good thing but ensure it is for HIS glory not yours. Sometimes, we want people to see that we have GOD in our lives and not that GOD has us in HIS Hands.

You hear people speaking of the great days gone by. “In our time, it was not like this!” “O the good old days!”

We speak this and derive unity and sympathy from those who were there with us in those times, leaving those who were not there to see the good old days wishing they lived and experienced the good old days.

The other day, I was talking with my brother about the protests in our country where everyone is demanding a better quality of life which in my view has never been experienced and they think that the presence of absence of some people will improve their lives.

In the course of discussion, it emerged that my grandfathers complained and wished for a restoration of things to a state before colonization set in. Indeed colonization ended on paper, but things got economically worse. All generations continue singing the same song and now it is the time for the youth to sing the song and indeed they are singing the song. Same forest, different monkeys. Same script, different cast. In our discussion, we asked ourselves, the question, when have things in this country ever been good economically? Prices are always going up and the price of bread has never gone back to 10 cents and it will never go back to that even if you bake it yourself. But our GOD rains free bread on HIS children and to some HE even sends cakes! Anyway I was branded a supporter of a certain man in that discussion. Back to our sermon.

Ecclesiastes 7:10

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

The New Living Translation puts it this way ”Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.

Many of us, when we think about restoration, we want to be put back to the state where we were before.

This is not entirely a bad thing depending on the circumstances. Take an example of losing a job unfairly.

Many will pray, fast and sow seed to be taken back to the job. Some are taken back and that is okay.

However, we know that this is not the case always. Many times we pray for restoration and it does not happen. Adam and Eve never went back to the Garden of Eden, despite their repentance and many tears , I am sure. Instead they died and went on to paradise to a different realm.

We move on and we wonder, “ Why did GOD not restore me?”

We comfort ourselves saying that better things are coming and indeed they sometimes do.

We say it was not GOD’s will saying things like HIS will be done and we pray for vengeance. All this is okay and expected.

Beloved, we feel bad when we lose things and when we experience loss and degradation, hence our endless prayers for restoration, and indeed we must pray for restoration.

Now, let us look at things from GOD’s perspective.

What does restoration for you mean to HIM?

The first thing that YAHWEH ADONAI desires is that you be restored to HIM. HE made you. HE loves you. Sin separated you from HIM and HE does not like it one bit. In addition to that, your lifestyle and things in it distract you from pursuing restoration with your MAKER. Sometimes, HE must ensure these things are taken away from you in the hope that you will get back to your senses.

However, when we insist on our own way and on throwing tantrums about having our own way and being restored by hook or crook, we see that GOD may hand us over to our will and then the real drama begins. Beloved, submit to GOD’s will for your life. Ask HIM to close all doors in your life that are not from HIM and to lead you in paths of righteousness. It does get easier with time and as you walk with HIM more and more. HE is a gentle FATHER, never giving us more than we can bear. Ask HIM to sow you HIS ways and accept this. It sure beats falling apart and going back to Egypt.