This is the last of a 3 part series by John Clark. Read part 1 & part 2.
In this third and final part of restoration we will look at the end result of God's work in us. The first part showed us that God chose us because of His love for us. Our sin and good works did not have any influence on that decision. In the second part I shared how the process of restoration is usually quite harsh but necessary to mold us into the image of Christ. Now I want to share how we are revealed in His glory to bring praise and adoration to our Maker.
If you have ever been to one of those car shows, I'm sure you are familiar with how the owners react as you wander by admiring their vehicles. They are usually quite proud of their accomplishments and are eager to show off their handiwork. Some of them even display before and after photos of the vehicles so you can get a small idea of the amount of work they put into the project. You may get a similar sense of admiration when you see an exquisite piece of handmade furniture on display in a store or in someone's home. It's especially interesting to me to look closely at the attention to detail if I know a part has been replaced. A good craftsman can blend the old with the new together so seamlessly it is nearly impossible to tell the old wood from the new.
So the good news for you is this - yes there will come a day when your physical body will be changed to illustrate what Christ has already done for your spirit. (Romans 8:18-25). God, the Master Builder of everything, never leaves a job partially done, including you. When Christ redeemed you from the power of sin, death and the devil, He paid for your complete redemption, both spiritually and physically. Spiritually you were born again (regenerated) at the time of your salvation; while physically, your body will be changed from its feeble, perishable bag of muscle, bone, water and tissue to an imperishable, everlasting body that will not grow tired, be subject to infection and injury; be done once and for all with sin and temptation; and be able to behold the full beauty and glory of our God. (1 Cor. 15:53-57)
Remember that while we are still on this earth, every Christian is in the process of restoration. We all have those days that we feel we are taking one step forward and two steps back. We have those times when we start to think that we are getting it right and suddenly we see some undiscovered rust or the paint starts to peel and chip and our flaws are once again exposed for all to see. It is then that we need to remember that God is the one doing the work and He is faithful to complete it. We can also be assured by His word that when it is time for His glory to be fully revealed to us, the finished product will be so unimaginably greater than we could have ever hoped or dreamed, that we will spend an eternity praising the Master for the richness of his grace that He showed to us through His Son. (Eph. 2:6,7; 2 Cor. 4:17)
If you have ever been to one of those car shows, I'm sure you are familiar with how the owners react as you wander by admiring their vehicles. They are usually quite proud of their accomplishments and are eager to show off their handiwork. Some of them even display before and after photos of the vehicles so you can get a small idea of the amount of work they put into the project. You may get a similar sense of admiration when you see an exquisite piece of handmade furniture on display in a store or in someone's home. It's especially interesting to me to look closely at the attention to detail if I know a part has been replaced. A good craftsman can blend the old with the new together so seamlessly it is nearly impossible to tell the old wood from the new.
So the good news for you is this - yes there will come a day when your physical body will be changed to illustrate what Christ has already done for your spirit. (Romans 8:18-25). God, the Master Builder of everything, never leaves a job partially done, including you. When Christ redeemed you from the power of sin, death and the devil, He paid for your complete redemption, both spiritually and physically. Spiritually you were born again (regenerated) at the time of your salvation; while physically, your body will be changed from its feeble, perishable bag of muscle, bone, water and tissue to an imperishable, everlasting body that will not grow tired, be subject to infection and injury; be done once and for all with sin and temptation; and be able to behold the full beauty and glory of our God. (1 Cor. 15:53-57)
Remember that while we are still on this earth, every Christian is in the process of restoration. We all have those days that we feel we are taking one step forward and two steps back. We have those times when we start to think that we are getting it right and suddenly we see some undiscovered rust or the paint starts to peel and chip and our flaws are once again exposed for all to see. It is then that we need to remember that God is the one doing the work and He is faithful to complete it. We can also be assured by His word that when it is time for His glory to be fully revealed to us, the finished product will be so unimaginably greater than we could have ever hoped or dreamed, that we will spend an eternity praising the Master for the richness of his grace that He showed to us through His Son. (Eph. 2:6,7; 2 Cor. 4:17)
John Clark
John Clark is a husband to Julie, a father of one son living in Valrico, Florida. He has an Associate Degree of Theology from Life Christian University, and serves at Life Center of Brandon where he is a teacher and writer.