In my post last week, I provided some of the ways restoration is defined. In case you missed that one and want to read it, here’s a link for you to easily jump over there: RESToration. I’ve obviously been thinking about the topic of restoration quite a bit and what it means because there are so many areas that we can benefit from restoration. Last year was a tough year for a great number of people, and this year is starting off with many of the same characteristics of uncertainty, insecurity, and a hunger for restoration. I noticed that all of the definitions have to do with a going back to something. Remember some of the words used to define restoration are returning, repairing, and reinstating. All good things… all good things. But it all sounds like a lot of work, and I can’t help but feel exhaustion coming on.
Restoration in our physical bodies can be as simple as taking a nap, eating a healthy meal, or drinking a glass of water. There is always a way for us to experience restoration. There’s a passage in Jeremiah, though that has me believing there’s a better way for living and not just for our physical health, but our spiritual health as well:
“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear what heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)
I like the sound of “It has no worries…” Most people who have “no worries” are highly uninformed, undereducated, or simply naïve. Well, I never want to be accused of being any of those, but as believers, the “no worries” mentality should be how we live. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us not to worry about what we eat or drink, what we clothe ourselves with, or tomorrow. Here’s a snippet, but I encourage you to read the whole passage:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Notice the last two words: as well. That tells me that it’s more than what we eat or drink, clothe ourselves with, or tomorrow. Wait a minute… what more is there?
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…” Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)
The “more” is immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine. What I also find completely wonderful is that it’s according to His power that is at work within us and not according to all the work we do in our own strength. Like we’re told in Matthew 6:33, all these things will be given to us as well.
While I don’t think King Solomon went on a rant in Ecclesiastes about everything being meaningless in the same way I’m thinking everything is meaningless, I do see certain things as a “chasing after the wind.” There are many Christians who believe we are saved by grace through faith, but kept by works. They may not say it that way, but if you were never able to earn your salvation, then it’s absurd to think you can keep it through works – or that you have to work to be saved. All too often there’s more condemnation being preached from the pulpit than God’s goodness. Working for salvation is meaningless.
That was a bit of a rabbit trail, but one worth hopping down for a brief moment. A point worth making from it is that restoration is all in His power that is at work within us, and not based on our own power.
Zerubbabel, mentioned in both Old and New Testaments, was known as a servant of God. He was both a political and religious leader at a very tenuous time of the Jewish people. They had been conquered by the Babylonians, the majority of them either killed or taken captive, the Temple was destroyed and plundered, and the land had been left in ruins. Talk about a need for restoration. Some of the Jewish people who had escaped death and capture remained in the land and carved out lives as best they could. Upon the return of Zerubbabel and the Jewish exiles to Judah, they weren’t met with rejoicing or a warm welcome, but the opposite.
The servant of God, also a forefather of Joseph (Mary’s husband; Jesus’ earthly father – Matthew 1:13), was given the task to rebuild the Temple. Mind you it was not going to be on the same level of grandeur as the Temple Solomon built, but it was an act that showed restoration. Now here’s Zerubbabel who is believed to have been treated very well by the Babylonian king and the Persian king who later conquered Babylon. He’s appointed governor over Judah by the Persian king and returns with the other exiles. They were met with distrust and hostility (they had lived for 50 years with the enemy after all), and Zerubbabel is the appointed “Persian” governor. Even though he was, by blood, Jewish, he was not accepted by his people. While rebuilding the Temple, Zerubbabel was met with insults, jeers, and frustration. Talk about being discouraged! He managed to get the foundation done before he was forced to give up (politics even back then – Ezra 1-6). I love how God encourages and restores.
“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.'” Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)
Did the Temple get rebuilt? Yes, it did. The book of Haggai is a smaller book that is packed with a picture of Jesus and the new covenant to come. It shows the meaninglessness of our fundamental work (recall Matthew 6:25-34):
“You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” Haggai 1:6 (NIV)
When we work under our own strength, it will never be enough; we’ll never have enough, get enough, or be able to give enough. When we surrender to God, accept His free gift of salvation, we have the opportunity to be like a tree planted by the water – we’re able to experience a life of “no worries” because we can trust that He is a good Father. Our relationship with God is all about trust.
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)
The world is still spinning, still held together, which tells me that God’s Word is true. All things are held together by His powerful Word. We can trust His promises. When He tells us not to worry about tomorrow, not to worry about what we will eat or drink or clothe ourselves in, we can trust that He will provide for all of our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
I have no desire to toil meaninglessly and never have enough. I don’t want to try to earn that which has been so freely given (Matthew 10:8). I want to be like Zerubbabel in experiencing restoration – not by might nor by power, but by God’s Spirit. I want to experience restoration through the finished work on the cross, because everything else is meaningless. The life of the believer really is supposed to be a life of no worries. I challenge you to trust in God and experience just how good He is.