The Restoration of Matt

11.20.2008
Each of us has a restoring-story. And many of us find ourselves sitting in a barn, under the tarp of our circumstances, sometimes even damaged beyond recognition, waiting for someone to come along and save us.

For me, I knew I was created for a purpose, destined to run on the road of freedom, to enjoy all I had been designed for, but by the time I had reached young adulthood, I was imprisoned in a barn of my own design. It was my first year away from home, living on my own as a freshmen in college. I was determined to be the driver of my own life, to go down any road I had the desire to explore, to choose my own destination, even if that meant a bit of off-roading.

It wasn't long before the choices I was making began to catch up with me. I was miserable. My rebellious spirit, like rust on metal, was eating away at my soul. I needed a restorer, a redeemer, someone to save me from myself, but who would take a chance on a project like me?

I was tired of trying to live a false life, to be somebody I wasn't designed to be. I ached to recapture the purpose I was created for. Then finally, The Restorer found me. The barn door of my circumstances that had held me were opened, and I came face to face with the One who would give his life to me that I might live. I was brought back to life by Jesus Christ.

Part of the restoration process was dealing with all the soul-rust, cutting out the sin in my life and allowing Jesus to replace it with his own way of right living. I also had to begin to trust him in the driver's seat, to lead me down the road he chose, and to rely on him for my final destination.

I guess my life since then has been a rolling restoration project, rebuilding the different areas in my life, just as we plan to do with Hulda's brake system, suspension, drive-train, and electrical. The beauty of my restoration is that through each phase, I'm beginning to look more like the person I was originally created to be, purposed for, reconditioned to OE standards (original equipment). But the greatest joy in my life is when my Restorer fills my tank with His Spirit, and takes me on the road, running down His errands, in this spiritual journey we call life.

1Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.