Born to Restore!

By marklail

The last 19 days of travel included lots of interaction with friends, family and co-workers. Several conversations centered on people or things in either a state of restoration or deterioration. My brother-in-law is down to the finishing touches on the frame-off restoration of the vintage Jeep and is anxious to get started on the 1952 pick-up truck. Restoration! The barn is in bad shape, but its usefulness doesn’t merit paint and repair. Deterioration! My nearly 81-year-old dad presented me with a set of old carving chisels sporting his distinctive, hand-turned walnut handles with leather rings and brass ferrules. Restoration! Three times, I learned that friends are in some stage of dismantling their marital vows. Deterioration! An aunt and uncle, after a 40-year diversion, made their way back into a Christian church and are involved in leadership. Restoration! My sister has cancer. Deterioration!

Restoration is so much more pleasant than deterioration. Not everyone is as “born to restore” as the Lail family, but the gratification of a genuine rebuild seems universal. Perhaps it is a reflection of the image of God in us. The Bible indicates that God is both a restorer and a destroyer. While his wrath is real, harsh and certain, his plan for death-deservers is restoration to life – full, abundant and eternal. As soon as we brought death upon ourselves, the Lord graciously implemented a plan for restoration to life. He spent centuries patiently bringing the nation of Israel back into its glory. Jesus restored withered hands, reversed deafness, corrected eyesight without surgery and even straightened out the confusion of the mentally ill.

Stewardship means to take personal responsibility for the care of someone or something. Our heavenly father demonstrated his care for us by including us in his plan of restoration. As Christlike disciples, we have the privilege of engaging in the Lord’s restoration project! A Sunday School class gathers at a hospital for pre-surgery prayer. Restoration! A child prays for salvation at Vacation Bible School. Restoration! A young couple intentionally commits to tithe their income. Restoration! The Church of the Nazarene restructures itself for organizational efficiency. Restoration! A local church insulates and shifts to low-consumption light bulbs. Restoration! A couple on the edge of marital disaster allows love to overcome hurts. Restoration!

“Restore us, O God;

make your face shine upon us,

that we may be saved.”

(Psalm 80:3)

In this world of constant change, everything is either improving or wearing out. Yesterday it was our home’s AC that displayed its state of deterioration. The prognosis is probably going to be the dreaded not-worth-fixing-may-as-well-just-replace-it. Thankfully, the Lord who restores, also never gives up!

Blessings,

Mark Lail (One of God’s true fixer-uppers!)