Dave’s Monday Blast – December 20, 2021
The theme of restoration saturates the Bible. In truth…restoration is the entire plot of the Scriptures. William Jessup University Professor, Mark Moore, Ph.D. writes: “The pain of paradise lost is soothed with the hope of a savior. An olive branch carried by a dove gave evidence of dry land. In light of the devastation of the Babylonian invasion and subsequent exile of the people of Israel, God proclaimed, ‘I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips’ (Isaiah 57:18 – 19a). Matthew found echoes of this proclamation in the birth of Jesus, our Immanuel, inaugurating the fulfillment of this promised restoration. God has come to restore creation and bring the kingdom of God near.”
Yet we and the world await this restoration. The earth sits dust-covered, corroded by the rust of broken ways and broken hearts. You see…restoration takes time. Dust is wiped away. Parts are removed and cleaned. Repainted and polished. Put back together. Christ comes to restore hope where there is war and strife, to give dignity to the marginalized and oppressed.
During this season, our need for restoration is laid bare. This season of waiting for the promised restoration of all things by our God makes us keenly aware of the present brokenness. The Apostle Peter encourages us, “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).
The birth of the Christ-child provided tangible hope that the restoration process was on schedule. It seems that during this season we expectantly wait for it. All good gifts are worth waiting for, but I would confess I wait impatiently as others before me have waited. In the first century, as Jewish villages were being pillaged by the Roman Empire, families jarred and displaced, “O come, O come, Emmanuel” was their cry. It remains our cry.
Perhaps one of Advent’s hallmarks is Christ’s restoration of broken families. The apostle John prophesied, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. ‘I am making everything new!'” I eagerly await the completed restoration…perhaps this will be our last Christmas season on earth.
