Is Your Gospel Big Enough?Sample

The Final Chapter of Restoration

We know things aren’t the way they could be or should be, but will they ever change for good?

Restoration explains the way things will be one day when Christ returns to make all things new (Rev. 21:5).

In Restoration, Christ will “wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:4). We eagerly await the final chapter of God’s story when there will be complete flourishing. In this final chapter, the whole of physical creation will be restored to, as the Bible describes, the new heavens and a new earth.

Jesus will restore shalom to the entire creation, and his people will live with him for eternity on a physical new earth not marred by the curse of sin. Stop and consider that last sentence again. God’s people will live with him forever. Why? Because God loves his people and desires to be in relationship with them for eternity. In Restoration, we will experience God in a way we cannot imagine today. In restoring all of creation, God will fully restore relationships. The earth will not bear the natural disasters of sin. Our bodies will not decay and wither. There will be no more tears, strife, and angst in relationships.

Restoration gives us immense hope in what is to come and in the significance of our work today. The “work of the Lord” Paul refers to is what we are called to do in our families, churches, communities, and jobs. God has blessed his people with resources, gifts, and talents. Our job on earth is to steward and manage those resources to his glory. What is done in the here and now, in the third chapter of Redemption, is still important to God. God gives us these resources so that we can fulfill the cultural mandate in this chapter of redemption. While we cannot perfectly maximize all our resources, we can still use them to the best of our ability in a way that honors God. This is good stewardship.

Restoration is the restoration of a city. It’s a symbol of human progress and a hope for our labor to advance God’s kingdom on earth. God has chosen to include his people in this process. The great privilege of collaborating with him motivates excellence in even the most mundane tasks until one day we realize the fullness of God’s kingdom when he will make all things new.

Why is Restoration an important chapter of the gospel?

Additional Elements

How do you fit into God’s big picture of Restoration? Find out in this blog post from the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics.