Isn’t it fascinating to watch someone with knowledge restore an old piece of furniture or an appliance? We used to love watching American Restoration on TV. In one episode, a pastor once took in an antique old-time giant stove with several ovens and about eight burners which he said his father would have loved to see restored before his passing away. Every piece was worked on and each burner taken apart to get refreshed. When it was all said and done, the pastor nearly passed out! It was beautifully restored! It looked better than the owner remembered ever seeing it. Every burner was chromed and restored to work, the oven and bread-warmer also worked, and the body was restored as well.
When we trust Jesus as our Savior and turn our lives to God, He takes away the spiritual dross and rust, removes the sinful way of thinking, chips away at our bad attitudes, and restores us to new people! It’s not a go-to-sleep, wake-up to-a-new-change. It takes time, but He will transform us. He’ll mold us into His image.
“For those who God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).
Ten years ago, my wife and I hunted up and down for a New York style sink we both grew up with. One well is deeper than the other. We finally found one! Of course, in Puerto Rico, getting a discount on anything is to declare war! Sellers HATE to budge on anything. We were begrudgingly “given” a discount of $5 off the item that belonged more in a junk yard than in our kitchen. But we took it to our neighbor who paints cars. He did an amazing job on it! See for yourself!
That’s how God transforms us: from “sinfully ugly” to His righteous image!
“And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets to dwell in”(Isaiah 58:12).
Call on Him now! Tell Him you repent of your ways and He’ll make you new! Granted, He’ll make you cry uncle for some time, but when your buddies see you again, they’ll not believe the transformation! Rough edges will be gone! Chips, dents, rust, removed! A new makeover will leave you spanking-new!
God Bless!
Sam