Text by Justin Lim
Whether we choose to admit it or not, we all have lost things at some points in our lives. It could be a precious piece of our possession, an occupation, a relationship with a loved one or even time. These losses in our lives could be a result of some harm someone’s done to us or the result of our own follies. What do we do when we lose these things? I don’t know about you but when I lose something, I would want to have it restored, regardless of it being my own fault or the fault of others. But when it comes to restoration, the question that remains is whether it is possible or not.
What was preached on Saturday at Arrow left me seeing that the restoration for everything I have lost in my life came at a price that wasn’t cheap at all. It cost Daddy God His Beloved Son, Jesus who personally paid for all my mistakes. It dawned on me that what really hinders my restoration is condemnation.
It is hard to believe Daddy God for restoration when we are weighed down with condemnation because that loss was a result of my folly to begin with. Sometimes we are on a sin hunt with ourselves and accept whatever loss we have encountered as something we deserve because it is our fault.
You may say, “There is no way I can go back in time to undo the mistakes I have done.” While we may not be able to physically go back in time to re-live life again, Jesus’ finished work on the cross has given us a clean slate to start with every day. Daddy God does not remember our sins because Jesus has already paid for them and our sins have been thrown into the sea of forgetfulness. You are completely righteous, completely forgiven, and the mistakes that you have made in the past (and even those in the future) have got no more hold on you.
I never realized until Saturday how having a righteousness consciousness plays a very important key to our restoration. Restoration is our blood-bought right that came at the price of our Saviour.
This divine restoration is not just for the small things in life. Even if you have wasted years living in a sinful lifestyle, God can restore. Even if you have lived a promiscuous lifestyle, God can restore. Your Daddy God says that “[He] will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten”. (Joel 2:25) Yes, that means restoring your broken heart, your studies, your family relationships and yes, even your virginity.
The world believes that once time is lost, it is gone forever. This may be true for the world, but not so for the sons and daughters of the Most High God. We have a Daddy God who not only loves to restore but is righteous in doing so. And there are no limitations to what He can restore.
I’m next!
