Jeremiah 33:6-9
Nevertheless the time will come
when I will heal Jerusalem’s damage and give her prosperity and peace. I
will rebuild the cities of both Judah and Israel and restore their
fortunes. And I will cleanse away all their sins against me and pardon
them. Then this city will be an honor to me, and it will give me joy and
be a source of praise and glory to me before all the nations of the
earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and
will tremble with awe!
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
One
of my favorite TV shows is called “Rehab Addict”. It features Nicole
Curtis, a young woman who buys really old, run-down houses in Detroit and
Minneapolis...and completely restores them. Her specialty is using
restoration hardware and vintage materials that she reclaims from other
old homes – or purchases at a local salvage yard and thrift stores. She
repairs old hardwood floors...light fixtures...stained glass
windows...claw-footed bath tubs and vintage kitchen sinks...and so much
more...and creates comfortable modern homes with a vintage feel.
Many
of the houses that Curtis purchases were scheduled for condemnation.
Some have windows that have been boarded up...graffiti that defaces the
interior and exterior walls...and crumbling sidewalks and porches.
Nothing seems to be too difficult for Curtis and her team to
tackle...and when the program did show an old home that was too far gone
being demolished, she was standing on the sidelines with tears pouring
down her face.
Nicole Curtis is one of many restoration and
renovation experts who have a vision. They see beauty and purpose where
most of us would see something that needed to go. They have the
foresight and ability to clean away the grime, sand and polish the years
of wear and tear, and turn back time.
Most of us are a lot like
those houses. We’ve become worn with time and “life”...and maybe
stained with our sins and wrongdoings. Some of us are downright sick
from all of it and in need of a profound healing and restoration. And
God offers us exactly this! He has the vision of who and what we are
supposed to be...what He intended for us. God also has the ability to
restore us to our former purpose...to cleanse us of the stains of our
sins and heal us where the gaping wounds of our bad choices and wrong
paths have left us scarred and worn.
If you’re like me, you know
at least one person of whom you have said, “If God can fix So-and-so, He
can fix ANYBODY!” And maybe that “So-and-So” is YOU! The point is
that God does not desire that a single one of us be “torn down and piled
into the dumpster”. He sees us as He designed us...and He can get us
back into prime condition. Aren’t you ready for a spiritual renovation
and restoration...even if all you need is just a “light refreshing”?
Isn’t this the perfect time to humble yourself before God and ask Him to
“do a good work in you”? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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