Stuart Swartzentruber
Tractors were a necessity on the dairy farm where I grew up. For small tasks around the farm, we had an old 8N Ford tractor. It seemed old when I was born and was ancient when I left home at 19. I have many sentimental memories of that tractor. My older brother apparently did as well, as he has totally restored it. Today it is a beautiful, clean, well-running tractor.
In this issue of Hopelines, there is a story of an old day-care building which was renovated and restored. It will be used as a facility for The Lighthouse church in Sault Ste. Marie.
Some restoration projects are for sentimental purposes. Others are embarked upon so that ideals and ideas can move ahead toward reality.
The restoration of God’s kingdom is the grand theme throughout the whole Bible. God’s plan is always about redeeming and making things right. Jesus came, lived, died, and rose. He conquered sin and death. Restoration has come and continues to come.
God has brought us back to wholeness with him. We are not called to be restored human projects in God’s museum, but are called to join with him in the task of seeing all creation restored to God’s original intention. Paul writes “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” (Colossians 1:9-19, NLT)
We have joined God’s kingdom, not just to wait for heaven, but to be the instruments God uses in this world to see “everything” being made new. The secret that is now out in the open is this: “Christ lives in you…” (Colossians 1:27, NLT). We are privileged to be the hands and feet of Jesus in his amazing kingdom.
The new home for The Lighthouse is not about a building. It is about creating a space where Christ’s body in Sault St. Marie can join God in his amazing restoration work.
