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order isotretinoin overnight Everyone loves a good restoration story. Whole genres of modern-day television are built upon restoration. For example, with three months, a contractor, and lots of drama, a dilapidated dwelling transforms into the ritziest house on the block. Junk cars and old motorcycles are brought back to life by professional mechanics. A Vegas pawn shop calls a ‘buddy’ and can buy and restore anything from vehicles to books to Japanese samurai swords. Homes become uninhabitable through years of accumulation, but within a week, undergo a complete makeover. Even personal stories of those who fall deep into substance abuse and addiction, morbid obesity, or debt attract the collective attention of the public wanting to see “Where are they now?”
The success stories make us feel elated, while the failure stories deflate. We want to see a win, because wins motivate, push, and encourage us. There is nothing like bringing back the beauty of what once was, and the revival of original intent and purpose. A story of restoration is a story of resurrection.
Easter's Message
In April we celebrated Easter. We remembered the resurrection and worshiped (as we should every day) our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ who conquered death, hell, and the grave forever! What was dead was made alive again. That which was lifeless is now animated. That which had zero life function, suddenly has a heartbeat slowly but steadily at first. His lungs gradually begin to expand and contract to take in oxygen. Blood begins to flow through his arteries and veins carrying that precious oxygen to his muscles. The muscles of the glorified body of the risen Christ begin to contract. He walked out of a borrowed tomb and proceeded to interact with people for 40 days.
What more though could we learn from Jesus raising from the dead than we commonly attribute to Easter? Yes we understand the great price paid for our adoption as sons and daughters. Yes, we understand Jesus’ shed blood as the Lamb of God is the only way to satisfy God’s wrath and for reconciliation with the Father. These things point to a great truth of which the resurrection clearly speaks; our God thrives on bringing life where there is no life.
A Great Truth Evident Throughout Scripture
That previous statement may seem fairly obvious, but consider all the instances in the Bible of resurrection: by the power of God Elijah the prophet raises the widow’s son in 1 Kings 17, the prophet Elisha raises a woman’s son in 2 Kings 4, a man raised to life from Elisha’s grave in 2 Kings 13, Jesus raises a widow’s son in Luke 7, Jairus’ daughter in Luke 8, Lazarus in John 11, a mass resurrection in Matthew 27, Tabitha/Dorcas by Peter in Acts 9, Eutychus by Paul in Acts 20, and of course, most notably, Jesus Himself. Our God is the Author of Life, not only newly created life ex nihilo, but also the reanimation of that which is absolutely deceased.
The giving of physical life is evident, but there is also a clear spiritual life or salvation, made possible by Jesus’ physical resurrection. We were dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1) but by God made alive together with Christ (Eph 2:4) by grace through faith alone (Eph 2:8). As Jesus was raised, so are we; both into a new life or new way of living now (Rom 6:4), as well as a physical resurrection after our physical death (Jn 6:40).
But Wait… There’s More!
Our God thrives on bringing life where there is no life, both physically and spiritually. But how often do we overlook, dismiss, or plainly forget that God can and wants to resurrect so much more in our life now?
- Was there once an unequivocal, God-given passion and purpose you once knew?
- Was there once a fire and zeal to know God and make him known?
- Was there once love and joy that marked your life so much more? Goodness, kindness, gentleness, and patience that flowed freely out of you? Or that you held fast to self-control?
- Was there a time when the Word of God held joyful priority in your day instead of frustrating you to complete another task?
- Did all of this hold true at one time for your church, small group, children, grandchildren, family, or friends who thrived in their closeness to Lord?
If the answer is “yes” to any or all of these questions, then take joy now because there is hope. Our God is in the business of resurrection! He wants all of those things to be restored to what they once were and beyond! Paul told believers at Ephesus that his desire was for them “…to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:19). That fullness of God for you includes such passion, such purpose, fervency in evangelism, bearing out the fruit of the Holy Spirit, closeness in your walk to Jesus, and equally the same for those around you.
Sounds Great, Sign Me Up!
Experiencing the fullness of God is most certainly what God desires in us; it may even be what we say we desire. But true desire is always corroborated by action. If a person truly desires something, they will take practical steps to see its fruition.
If a person says they desire something, but don’t take practical action to see its fruition, then they communicate that their desire in reality is to just maintain status quo.
If I truly want to know that God-given passion and purpose for my life, I will not find it while binge-watching Netflix. Actually the Bible says that someone, through testing, can discern God’s will, not through conformation, but by transformation of the mind (Rom 12:2), that is renewing the mind in God’s Word. Netflix can certainly transform my mind, but not in a way that leads my thoughts to rest on Christ.
A surefire way to extinguish fire and zeal for the things of God, is to consistently sacrifice gathering with the church family in order to gather with a ballpark family on Sunday. How do we arrive at the mindset where we think Scripture’s imperative to not forsake the body (Heb 10:25) is optional?
In order to guarantee that my life doesn’t bear out the fruit of the Holy Spirit, I must ensure a few things: that prayer, worship, the Word, and gathering with other believers is a burden, that they remain a checkmark on some mental to-do list, and that I make my happiness the supreme goal of my life. If I am successful at that, then I can also count on those around me remaining stuck in the mire as far as I am concerned. It is a classic case of the blind leading the blind.
A Hard Truth
The resurrection of passion, purpose, zeal, a fruit-bearing life, closeness to Jesus, and godly influence requires something first. Resurrection requires the death of fleshly passion, perceived purpose, and zeal for worthless things. Trash the wax fruit that has no nutritional value and return from running away. All are graces of God in and of themselves and synonymous with surrender.
Maybe you’ve tried that a thousand times. “God I’m turning it all around today!” Only to turn it all right back around tomorrow. There are two reasons why we have good intention, but fail so easily and fall into discouragement:
- We rely completely on our ability to change. Effectively, that says that I am trusting wholly in me to change me from the me I don’t want to be. Willpower is the weakest motivator.
- We have not because we ask not (James 4:2). I don’t mean asking for a million dollars in the bank account, but rather genuinely asking God for that which is pleasing to Him.
How often do we pray something like this? “God strip away anything from me that keeps me from knowing you more!
Lord turn me to you and keep me on the path, fixating my eyes on you and away from the things I think I want! Restore to me the joy of my salvation and cut out anything that prevents the Holy Spirit from bearing fruit in me. Give me joy and rest and rejuvenation in your presence, whatever it takes!”
When we pray in Jesus’ Name, it is not like rubbing the lamp to get what we want from the genie. On the contrary, to pray in Jesus’ Name is to pray in alignment with His will, His heart, His desires; all of which infrequently line up with ours.
There’s No Obstacle Too Big
Despite man’s best attempt to keep Jesus in the grave, despite the spiritual enemy’s best attempt to hold Him in death, despite the doubt and unbelief of those closest to Him, and those who prepared and wrapped his body for the tomb according to their Jewish custom, Jesus walked away. He walked away from all that burial preparation, a sealed tomb, an immovable stone, professional soldiers, and even government orders.
Our God thrives on bringing life where there is no life. There is no obstacle that He cannot overcome; even our stubbornness, our pride, our desire, our fortified resolution. Surrender it all by offering it up and asking for His will, let Him put it all to death and watch Him resurrect that which you thought was long deceased.
Missions Pastor, Andy Thomaston
Andy grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. His wife, Dana, is from Transylvania, Romania, and they have one son named Lucas. Andy has a strange mix of hobbies including: being an avid hockey player both on ice and on DEK and an amateur sushi chef. His favorite Bible story is Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. He unfortunately has no dogs.
