Restored

T

he table belonged to my grandmother.  As we made plans to complete the restoration on our house, grandmother was making plans for that old table.  Her father built it for his family and she had kept it all these years.

Although it had been in the family for three generations, the table was in very good shape.  It was well-built, solid, and it had no major blemishes or damage.  However, the table was in need of restoration. The old varnish needed to be removed and a new finish put in its place.  This was a job that grandmother wanted to participate in and supervise herself.

The first step in this long process involved removing years of old varnish in order to restore the wood to a lighter color suited to our dining room.  This first step took a long time and involved the most elbow grease.  Grandmother, along with my dad, used steel wool and harsh chemicals to dissolve and remove the old stain.  Every nook and cranny of the table received the same treatment until all the old covering had been removed.

Now the process of restoration could begin.  The wood was sanded, neutralized, and prepared to receive a new look.  Hours of work, lots of wiping, rubbing, sanding, and buffing transformed that table into a beautiful piece of furniture.  Along the way, there were stories about the table, jokes were told, and wonderful plans were made for its future.  Throughout the entire process, that table remained the center of attention until all the work was completed.  When finished, it became the center piece of our home.

God is in the restoration business.  He carefully, methodically, and constantly works with us, removing years of wear and tear in our lives.  He knows that underneath, down deep, we have infinite value.  God is also aware that we grow tired, frustrated, that we get banged up and scratched.  Instead of throwing us out, however, instead of assigning us to the trash dump, God lovingly undertakes the long process of restoring us so he can use us.

He strips away anything and everything that has discolored our lives.  This process may take a long time as God rubs, sands, buffs, and strips away layers of self-doubt, deceit, low self-esteem, fear, anxiety, and mistrust.  Lovingly, he stays at his task until the last remnants of these blemishes are completely wiped out of our lives.

Then he undertakes our restoration.  He applies ample layers of his love, grace, and mercy.  He stains us to conform to the exact image of his son, Jesus, so that we can be used in his service.  Along the way, there are stories of love, there is laughter, and great plans are made for our future.  God does all the work; we just have to be still.

The final and most important step was sealing the table’s surface.  After all that work, a coat of sealant protected the table from spills, nicks, and scratches.  God seals us as well with the Holy Spirit so that we will always look and be our best for him.  The sealant insures that all the work done before remains unchanged, perfect, and evident for all time.

Psalm 23:3a is a short statement but one of great importance.  It simply reads, “he restores my soul.”  This is one of the great things about our God.  His house is filled with restored furniture.  He alone sees the value when others don’t.  He knows that we need to be restored in order to serve his purposes.  God wants to restore us, to make our lives into centerpieces that reflect and testify to his glory.

A

re you in the restoration process?  Just hang on because the finished product will be a wonder to behold!