To have, to lose, and to regain is the fundamental design of life. It is the basic story of human beings on the earth. It is the story of redemption.

The concept of restoration is one of the most important ideas of the Scriptures. The restoration of the Temple of Solomon and the rebuilding of the wall of the city of Jerusalem are illustrations of what is to take place in the Body of Christ, which is the new Jerusalem, the Wife of the Lamb.

The program of the restoration of the Glory of God in the earth has continued to this day.

We are living in an hour when the spiritual pace is accelerating. No longer is there time for people to plan their own life in such a manner that some small portion of it is assigned to Christ. Such lukewarmness will be brought to judgment very soon. Christ will have our whole life or we will not be able to enter our inheritance in the Lord.

From now on it is necessary to move forward in faith one day at a time, and may God grant us the wisdom to redeem the fleeting hours. Great rewards are offered to those who will lay aside every other consideration and begin to seek Christ in earnest. God proposes to do a final work that will result in everlasting righteousness. Let us rise to the occasion and make every day profitable for Christ.

The Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi have to do with the work of the rebuilding of the wall and the restoration of Jerusalem after the years of captivity in Babylon.

The pattern of the Book of Joel, the prophet mentioned by Peter at the birth of the Christian Church, is a pattern of restoration.

Ezekiel, a priest and prophet of the captivity, speaks of a restored Temple and restored blessings. Daniel, also of the captivity, describes his visions of final restoration, of the saints possessing the Kingdom of God. Many passages from the Prophets speak of restoration after judgment.

As we meditate on this central topic of the Scriptures we begin to realize the pattern of restoration is the pattern of the history of the world, and of every person of the world. It is the story of the prodigal son.

The pattern is:

Receiving our inheritance from the Lord.

Misusing and despising the value of the inheritance, and the laws of the God who gave it, because of our inexperience and rebellion.

The resulting weakness, humiliation, and slavery.

Repentance; the work of restoration, with God's help; a renewed appreciation of what has been lost, and finally an appreciation of the Lord Himself.

Receiving and eternally possessing our inheritance, now multiplied many times in glory.

This is the story of the prodigal son, of Samson (in part), of every saved human being.

This is the history of mankind on the earth, of the people of Israel, of the Christian Church.

To be continued.