We all sin. We all stumble and fall short of the glory of God. Yet, He restores us!
Even when words tumble from our lips that should never be spoken. When we take the innocent behaviors of our neighbors and twist them. When we place something before our eyes not wholly of God. God STILL restores; no matter how big or small our sins may be.
Yet, the Word does state that ALL have sinned. Since the fall in the Garden, it has been our price. Only, Jesus, the One without sin… He willingly paid that price. For, despite the fall of man in the Garden, it was not, and is not, the end! Because God is merciful and He… He is love!
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”—Romans 3:23-24
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16
So, stumbling, even falling, is unfortunately still an issue, but it does not mean we have to give in. Every time we fall a series of choices are laid before us. Some can keep us down in that pit and cycle of sin, but others can lead us to restoration—the foundation of changing who we have been for who God created us to be via the Blood, Name, and mercy found in Jesus.
What should we do when we fall?
Ideally when we stumble or fall, our thoughts, even our words and actions, should immediately turn to our Father. To the Creator of ALL. This first shift—even if not instantaneous—allows us to redirect our focus. By remembering God we realize we have sinned, we take responsibility for that sin, and we repent of it.
“‘Now, therefore,’ says the Lord,
‘turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
return to the Lord your God,
for He is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and of great kindness;
and He relents from doing harm.”
—Joel 2:12-13
Now, what comes next is often the most difficult step, especially if we are repenting for a sin we have faced before… that is, disassociating from the sin. Not forgetting that we once faced this sin—after all, it is part of our testimony and a testament to God’s mercy—but no longer agreeing with or accepting it.
We turn from the sin and return to God so that when the same temptation or test comes, we can change our behavior. This change is not always easy, yet, without it, we can become stuck in a sin cycle—one seemingly inescapable as that sin becomes a habit, pattern, or even an addiction/idol.
In all the steps of return God is more than willing to help us, but we too must be willing. We have to turn and return, making the choice to behave in a different way than before—to behave like Jesus and not His enemy. Doing nothing unless our Father does it first.
“…Your will be done on earth…”—Luke 11:2
It is in our return to God—to the creation God crafted us to be—that we find the pureness of Heaven and restoration to our Father. For our Father, like the father of the prodigal son, wants to restore us…
“…he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said… ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ …”—Luke 15:20-24
When we, as the prodigal son, come to our senses, remember our Father, and return home, we are restored to the life God wants us to lead. A life that is good, full of richness, authority, and belonging.
The Importance of Restoration:
“…I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”—Joel 2:25
When we return to God—leaving behind our sinful nature—God brings restoration. He restores and breathes new life into us. He restores the years that the locusts of our life have eaten and returns us to covenant relationship!
All it takes is rising to our feet and putting one foot in front of the other, keeping our eyes firmly fixed on our Father.
Yes, sometimes we fall due to the same thing, not once, but a dozen times… yet, God is merciful and patient. He will help us rise to our feet and walk with Him if we but ask. And by keeping our eyes on Him and not on the storm—fears, doubts, temptations, etc.—we find that we can walk upon the water. Because with God, all things are possible, for His perfect love casts out fear!
“But Jesus looked at them and said… ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”—Matthew 19:26
Peter walked upon the water with Jesus, and it was not until his eyes turned from Him to the storm around them, that He sank into the waves. This is true for all us. When storms of trial, test, tribulation, and temptation come, the surest way to rise above the waters and find our restoration is to keep our eyes fixed on God. We must not remove our eyes from His love-filled gaze!
“…Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’
“And Peter answered Him… ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’
“So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”—Matthew 14:27-29
By repenting and walking upon the water with our Creator, we find the truest restoration of all. The love, relationship, authority, and purpose only found in our Heavenly Father!
Conclusion:
To find true restoration we must first return to God.
God knows we are imperfect, and yet, He loves us still. After all, it was while we were still sinners that God gave His only Son, to restore us to Him.
That shed Blood is available today. It is available to pull us from the pit we have fallen into and instead into a place where, if we but keep our eyes on God, we will not leave. A place of acquittal, promise, authority, and kinship with the King of all!
“… For there is really no difference between us, for we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God. Yet through his powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away his righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin!”—Romans 3:22-24 (TPT)
The light of God is ours to shine to the world. It is ours not only for our restoration, but so that we might bring restoration to all those who sin—the entire world!
“‘… One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.’”—John 9:25
Returning, repenting, rising, restoration… beautiful steps in God’s plan of mercy; His unfailing grace.
This year, let the Lord restore our sight. Let us not be blinded by the wind, or the waves of sin and the grave, but let us see clearly the light of Heaven through the glory and grace of God!
Let us walk in restoration, knowing that, while we are not worthy in ourselves or anything we could ever do, we are made worthy by God’s love. By the grace, mercy, Blood, and Name which is above every other name. The Name of Jesus!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”—John 3:16-17
