Scripture: “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” – Revelation 21:5
Examination: Most Christians know that Revelation is the last book of the Bible and chronicles the events of the future tribulation and judgment upon the earth. In this second-to-last chapter of the Scriptures, we read about the glorious beginning of eternity-future, where Jesus declares Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end! The new Jerusalem has been created and is for those who are found righteous in Him. This is a time when He wipes away every tear forever, and all things are made new!
Application: In Japan, there is an art form known as “kintsugi” where broken pottery is not tossed out, but rather repaired with powdered gold. The end product is considered a work of art and is often more valuable than the original piece. Once restored, it serves as a reminder that from brokenness can come beauty.
A kintsugi bowl is a beautiful example of mankind’s relationship with the Saviour. In our sin, we are “broken” when compared to the righteousness of our Creator. We are scarred by our sin nature, and thus, we are so unworthy of His love. But that’s not how God sees us.
The Bible tells us that in His eyes, we are precious. Psalm 139:17 states, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Instead of discarding us, God had a plan to redeem us, but instead of gold, He used the sinless blood of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
When a sinner repents and accepts Christ as his or her personal Saviour, the marks of sin are covered by His blood that He willingly shed on the cross of Calvary. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God, in reference to His Son, “… hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” We are no longer an unsaved sinner on our way to an eternity in hell without the Lord, but we become the redeemed children of God with a promised forever in heaven.
Psalm 23:3 states, “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Because of Jesus’ great love for us, we can be restored to an eternal relationship with God! In a sense, His love has enabled us to become a “kintsugi” child of God! Wholly restored, beautiful to behold, and beloved in the eyes of our Father forever.
Memory Verse: “And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” – Jeremiah 24:7
Restore in us, O God, the splendor of your love;
Renew your image in our hearts, and all our sins remove.
O Spirit, wake in us the wonder of your power;
From fruitless fear unfurl our lives like springtime bud and flower.
Bring us, O Christ, to share the fullness of your joy;
Baptize us in the risen life that death cannot destroy
Three-personed God, fulfill the promise of your grace,
That we, when all our searching end, may see you face to face.
(from “Restore in us, O God” by Carl P. Daw, Jr.)