Restoration (Part 4)

Restoration (Part 4)

Paul declared one of these contrasts between our concept of what is considered loss and gain in Philippians 3:8-10:

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death..."

He had his priorities right.  Whatever he lost paled significantly in comparison to what he gained in knowing Christ.  The principle is this:  In God's Kingdom, you lose to gain.

Did you ever stop to think that the losses you are experiencing might actually result in gain if you view them from God's perspective?  Your sins may have cost you, people may have rejected you, but God can restore you just like He did these famous people in the Bible. They lost everything, gained a great deal more because of their obedience to God and because they trusted in His restoration process.

 -Abraham left his home, family, and nation at the Word of the Lord.  He was left with a less desirable piece of land when he allowed Lot to choose the best property.  His gains?  He tithed and treated others generously. In return, Abraham received  a miracle child, a promised land,  and became the father of nations. 

 

-Joseph lost the love of his brothers, was separated from his father, lost his homeland, and was striped his prized possession, which was his coat of many colors.  His freedom and reputation were taken.  His gains?  He became second in command in Egypt and saved the world from starvation.

-Esther left her beloved uncle and her simple way of life to become queen.  She risked her life to appear before the king.  Her gains?  She saved an entire nation from annihilation and preserved the lineage from which the Messiah would come.

-John the Baptist lost his life for the sake of the Gospel, but his ministry prepared the way for the greatest manifestation ever given: God in flesh who came and lived among us and died for our sins.

-Paul lost his position and prestige as a leader in Israel when He became a believer in Jesus Christ.  He was stoned, beaten, shipwrecked, and imprisoned.  He declared that he suffered the loss of all things.  His gains?  He out-wrote, out-preached, and out-traveled any New Testament minister on record and came to know the Lord in an intimate relationship.

-Peter was called to leave a profession he loved–fishing.  He was rewarded with catching men instead of fish and became a great leader in the first church. 

 -John lost his freedom and was cast upon a lonely, deserted island.  He probably watched the ship sailing away wondering if he would ever see his home or family again.  But there on that island, while in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, John received one of the greatest revelations ever given regarding the end-times and the final restoration of all things in the new heaven and earth.

 Think about it-is it just possible that God will take the losses of your life and turn them around for your benefit?  Are you going to remain weeping over the ashes of your losses or like David are you going to rise up and claim total restoration?

Satan is a thief, but Jesus declared in John 10:10:

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

 If you have lost everything then recognize the source of your loss.  It was not your employer, your companion, your friends, your family member, or God who did this wrong against you.  It was Satan who comes to steal, kill, and destroy all that is valuable and good in your life.  Jesus comes that you might have abundant life and that includes His divine provision for your every need. You may have fallen because of temptation and lost what was most precious to you, but God can restore and heal every wound. Just ask Him and trust Him to help you work it out.