fbpx

Restoration and Salvation

Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” – 

Have you ever saved something someone else was going to throw away?

Curb Alert!
A few times a week, I see posts in my neighborhood Facebook Group for “Curb Alerts.” Curb alerts are when someone is going to throw something out, but they think someone else might want it. So, they put it out on the curb and post a picture. Whoever wants it, can just drive by and pick it up.

When people swing by and pick up a curb alert item, they are saving that item from being thrown out. Most curb alerts are successful in finding someone who wants the item, but sometimes the item simply stays on the curb for the trash guys to pick up.

Why are some things left on the curb?

While curb alerts do extend the life of many items some items are just too damaged, out of style, or gross for people to take. These items would have to be renovated and restored to be worth saving.

God doesn’t leave you by the curb.

The truth is that we are pretty damaged and gross by sin. God would have every reason to just ignore the curb alert for us, but God doesn’t work that way. No one is too damaged, gross, or out of style for God.

There’s a show on Netflix called, The Repair Shop. It’s described as:

“Expert artisans restore timeworn family heirlooms with touching sentimental value while also uncovering their uniquely rich histories.”

That’s what God does for us. He doesn’t just save us, He restores us with His expert hand. God doesn’t save us only to have a bunch of filthy, broken sinner laying around in Heaven. He removes all the dirty sin, fixes all the damaged parts, and makes us new again in a way no one else can.

Is it time for a curb alert?

The curb isn’t a fun place to be. It’s scary to be out there, away from your comfort zone. You may wonder whether God will really decide to come get you. You may feel too damaged and dirty.

You don’t have to fix yourself first with God. You don’t have to clean up your act first. Let God do that. He doesn’t save us because we are in good enough condition to be worth saving. He saves us because He loves us and values us. He saves us because we are His precious creation, worth restoring at any cost, even the cost of Jesus’ life.

In fact, it’s God who issues our curb alert. He takes us out of our comfort zone. By His Spirit, working through His Word, He brings us to the curb of repentance where Jesus picks us up and restores us.

Heavenly Father,

I’ve been used and damaged. I’m soiled with sin. I need to be restored by Your loving, expert hands. Thank You for saving me. Thank You, also, for not leaving me damaged and filthy, but cleaning me up and restoring me.

Amen.

Tomorrow, I hope you will come to worship. Come as you are. Receive God’s forgiveness and grace.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt