When God Restores All Things
One of the shows I really enjoy watching is called The Repair Shop. Have you ever watched it? It’s set in England and the premise of the show has a group of master craftsmen in a workshop. Old furniture, jewelry, paintings, ceramics, watches, and clocks, toys, books – treasures that have seen better days- wind up in the hands of these master craftsmen and they restore them to their former glory. Instead of throwing them away (or in the bin if you’re English) these master craftsmen take these objects that have special value to people and bring them back to life and usefulness. It’s fun to watch – and I love watching these craftsmen (and women) use their gifts and talents and training to make it happen.
I’ve been thinking about Restoration lately. Thinking about heaven and what it’s going to be like to live on a restored earth. When we die, we immediately go into the presence of the Lord – some scholars call that the intermediate state and then at the end of all things we will enter the New Earth together- every believer from all generations – together at the same time!
The whole arc of Scripture goes from the Garden of Eden and ends in theNew Garden. God’s plan for the restoration of the world and his children was prophesied in Genesis, was made possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection and will come to fruition when Jesus returns. I found this profound quote from GK Chesterton that speaks to this:
“On the third day the friends of Christ, coming at daybreak to the place, found the grave empty and the stone rolled away. In varying ways, they realized the new wonder; but even then, they hardly realized that the world had died in the night. What they were looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and earth; and in the semblance of the gardener, God walked again in the garden, in the cool, not of the evening, but of the dawn.”
The restoration has already begun in you and me – not ever finished on this side of heaven but Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 4:10 – “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer body is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” But some day – our bodies too!
Back to The Repair Shop. Often, when the craftspeople restore these items, they don’t make them look brand new – although they certainly could. They keep some of the character of the old thing, but it’s repaired and in much better condition.
In the same way, there will be continuity between the old earth and the new, between the old me and the new me. The disciples recognized Jesus – he ate with them, they could touch him and he spoke with them. The New Heavens and New Earth will be the same – there will be a line of continuity, but the new will be glorious, amazing and without sin to spoil it.
I can’t wait! But until then, as it says in Psalm 105:4 “Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.”