"I WILL RESTORE!"

Jeremiah 33:6-9              (ESV)
"6 Behold, I will bring to it (Judah and Israel) health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.
7 "I WILL RESTORE" the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first.
8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against ME, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against ME.
9 And this city shall be to ME a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it."




There is no one worthy of GOD's grace and mercy, even the children of Judah and Israel listed above.   People have asked me if these children hadn't ignored GOD's law and principles enough to warrant punishment for what they had done?  Immediately my mind goes to my SIN and terrible choices and I have to reply with a HUGE, HUMBLE NO!  GOD's mercy and grace are abundant, whether we acknowledge HIM or not.  "I WILL RESTORE" was not because HIS children were worthy, rather because of HIS love for them!

Just in the few verses above GOD says HE would bring health and healing, heal them, reveal to them, restore fortunes, rebuild them, cleanse them, and finally forgive them!  Then in verse nine GOD says "all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them.   They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it" (Judah and Israel)!  It was because GOD has MATCHLESS indescribable LOVE that HE chose to display it so freely time and again on HIS children, not because they deserved it!

One day last week I was extremely busy at  work and didn't look at my cellphone until almost time to go home.  When I did there was a message from one of my sons.  I opened the message and then started crying, almost uncontrollably.  He was saying he was thinking about the good example I had been as a father and he thanked me for being there for him.  Being overcome by emotions is something I have always had problems with, and this time was no different.  My son didn't tell me how many times I had failed him as a father, nor  failed his mom as a husband, rather his message of encouragement was building me up like few times in my life.  And then I started thinking about how GOD sees me and I was once again humbled to no end.  GOD doesn't see my sinfulness. GOD sees HIS SON JESUS CHRIST when HE looks at me.

Just like Judah and Israel, I have failed GOD so many times.  And yes, I continue to live a life that I am ashamed of, but only at times.  GOD is always there showing me grace and mercy and saying "I WILL RESTORE" to me.  Not because I am worthy, but because JESUS was a propitiation for my sin (1 John 2:2)!  I don't understand mercy and grace, but I'm sure glad GOD has said "I WILL RESTORE" to me!!!