System Restore

Last week I was helping some that had a virus on their computer and it was so bad that I had to restore the system back to factory default, wiping everything back to the way it was shipped out.  I started thinking about things that I have I have done in that I would have loved to restore back to a default or a do over.  Unfortunately, life isn't that way.  The consequences of things we say and do can have very long term, if not permanent, effects.  That's why we should be care of our actions and our words. (but that's another message)

The great news is God allows us to restore our relationship back to default with Him no matter how bad we have messed up or what we have said. We just have to ask Him with a sincere heart and our relationship is "restored".

1 John 1:8-9 (NIV)

⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Now, that doesn't mean that there are not consequences for things we have done, but when God forgives, we are forgiven.  The cost for that sin was paid for on the cross.

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you^[a] free from the law of sin and death.

  

Psalm 103:11-13 (NIV)

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Do you need to perform a system restore" with God.  He is waiting.  

Dr Stephen Linhart