Meaning: “conveying a significance that is not directly expressed . . .”
God always brings good out of bad! Think of that! What a guarantee, Gentle Reader! And I always-but-always repeat this one to myself every time things get rough!
In Scripture, this guarantee is called “restoration,” meaning the “return of something removed (Encarta).” In The Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishers, © 1991, p.2012, James Robison says, “When something is restored in the Scriptures . . . it is always increased, multiplied or improved so that its latter state is significantly better than its original state (see Joel 2:21-26).”
Hard times can remove many things, Gentle Reader—comfort, security, peace, wealth, position, health and more. But here, to me, is the beauty of God’s acts of restoration: God always returns the removed better than it was before! (Reminds me of being a Girl Scout where we were taught to always leave things in better condition than when we found them!)
For example, from Genesis and Revelation: the glory of Eden lost will be a greater glory when paradise is regained and the New Jerusalem occupied by the Saints (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerusalem ).
From Job 42:10-12: Job is stripped of all he holds dear then restored better than ever.
From 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, NKJV): as with Jesus, so with believers—this mortal life shed will be replaced with immortal life. I’m sure once you think about it you could add your own examples to mine. This is a major theme throughout the Scriptures!
But for anyone abstaining from reliance on God, there is no Scriptural reassurance, Thoughtful Reader. The only result that poor unfortunate can expect is the wrath of God (Romans 1:18-22, NKJV). In fact there is no other guarantee from any other source available to the abstainer that begins to compare with the bounty of good guarantees in Scripture our merciful God offers believers. For abstainers, there is no anchor that holds, no lighthouse in the storm, steadily guiding them home, no glorious restoration from loss, no comfort, no solace. Only for the Christian believer are the lighthouse and the anchor enduring symbols of help and restoration in the storms of life.
How clear it is to me now as I keep sorting things out—God’s policy of restoration should never be overlooked in any study of meaning, Gentle Reader. It is one of those meanings that is right up there among a select few of meanings-above-all-meanings. And I am so grateful I realize and appreciate God’s restoration for what it is— the believer’s great and legitimate hope and future and a meaning in life not to be missed.
To be continued . . .
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