COVENANT OF DIVINE RESTORATION

“And I WILL RESTORE to you the years that the locust has eaten…” – Joel 2:25a

Our Father-God is committed to the COVENANT of DIVINE RESTORATION: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25). Restoration is needed then things are not as they ought to be, due to a crisis, disaster, tragedy, or degeneration – wear and tear. Humanity is in need of restoration, hence the Good Shepherd came.

God restores our souls from the tragedy of sin. David cried: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…RESTORE to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit” (Psa.51:10,12).

God also restores our souls from the wear and tear of times, seasons, and temporal conditions of a decaying world system. David said: “He restores my soul…” (Psa.23:3a). Sheep tend to stray and wander from the fold, but the Good Shepherd provides for rest, refreshing, and Restoration. When we’re down and discouraged, He ‘reboots our system’!

God restores our bodies by His Resurrection Promise: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom.8:11). His bodily resurrection is the guarantee of ours in future. Now, we can tap into His Resurrection Power for daily restoration (Phi.3:10). Ultimately, He’ll make good the project He began in the Eden. The blight of sin cannot have the final say!

Peter’s gracious restoration is a classic model of Christ’s love and commitment to transform the life of any failing Christian. The Lord Himself lovingly takes the initiative, as demonstrated in Peter’s restoration. First, He prayed for it: “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Lk.22:32a). He still does: “always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb.7:25). Then, He promised it: “when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Lk.22:32b). Peter would testify: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise…but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2Pet.3:9). Finally, God prompted it: “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered…” (Lk.22:61a). That simple gesture melted Peter and started the process of his restoration (2Cor.7:10a).

On the glorious resurrection dawn, restoring grace was already working in Peter, for although he had wept bitterly he did not wallow in destructive self-pity. He was typically the first apostle to enter the empty tomb, eager to know the truth. There must have been real encouragement for him in the heavenly message to the women that his Lord was thinking specially of him, for the angel said, “But go, tell His disciples – AND PETER – that He is going before you into Galilee…” (Mk.16:7a). And, indeed, the risen Lord gave priority to Peter: “and that He was seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve” (1Cor.15:5).

Finally, a heart-to-heart session occured, when true repentance and loving forgiveness were exchanged. The first apostle at the empty tomb was first into the water to meet the Lord on the beach after the fruitless fishing trip. He, who had failed by a three-fold denial of his Lord, received the opportunity of a corresponding three-fold declaration of his love for the Lord in the presence of his brethren. Three years earlier he had been irresistibly drawn by the word, “Follow Me”, and after all the highs and lows, the last recorded words of the risen Christ to Peter personally, were still, “Follow Me” (Mt.4:19; Jh.21:19). From first to last, the Christian’s life should be expressed in personal devotion and communion to the Lord.

Christ’s marvellous grace restored the one who had publicly failed Him, and transformed him into an outstanding apostle. Beloved, however much you’ve failed, you can be restored to a Spirit-filled life, well-pleasing to the Lord. Be encouraged by His gracious promise: “I will restore to you the years…” (Joel 2:25). May this be so in your life to His glory, in Jesus name!