Restored!

Restored!

Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:11‭-‬12 KJV

The Inspiration:

These are the words of David, the man after God's heart. He had a special relationship with God, which began long before he was made king over Israel. He would spend time singing hymns and worshipping God, and it is not a surprise that when king Saul was being tormented by a demon, David was brought in to play the harp, and as he played, the evil spirit would leave Saul. That is the power and impact of a life that has encountered God. You cannot but make a difference. However, like all human beings, there may come a time when we make mistakes. We could be so used to a process or system that we forget the rules of engagement. David was king, and in those days, he could have any woman he wanted as wife, but he lusted after the wife of one of his mighty men, had him killed, and then brought the wife into his palace. He did it in secret, but his punishment was in the open, even led by his own son.

The Contention:

Sin is a reproach to anyone. With sin, God has no favourites, and He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. The bible says very clearly that sin reduces a man to a loaf of bread. Its impact is both earthly and eternal, if one does not repent of it. No wonder that David had to pen down the words of today's verse. He had seen and experienced the power and grace available when God is with you, and now, he had to live through the experience of God's anger against his actions. God hates sin, but His love for the person has never been in doubt. God will always seek out the sinner, as the parables of the prodigal son and the lost sheep and lost coin all make clear but He does not condone sin. His heart is glad when a sinner returns to him, but He cannot and will not look upon sin. He has made it very clear that His eyes are too pure to behold iniquity. 

The Conclusion:

Sin leads to eternal separation from God, but while I am still alive, I have the opportunity to make things right with God. The prayer in the verse above is from a heart that knows that God is the only One who can fully restore joy. Being saved means having God live inside you, and one of the signs of that presence is joy. If I ever find myself without joy, I should go back to the Source. The Holy Spirit is the proof that God is in and with you. No matter where I go or what I do, I must make sure I do not lose the presence of God. How would I face this uncertain world without the help of the One who created it? I ask God to help me live right on a daily basis. I ask him not to leave me to my own devices, and to always guide my steps. When God leads, a good end is assured. If He does not live in you now, it is not too late. Make sure of eternity before it is too late. God's time of favour is here.