restoration

Golden streams weaving through stars, galaxies, planets, and constellation patterns — Image generated via AI.

There’s a line in The Message translation of Colossians that stops me in my tracks every time. Paul writes that God was pleased to have everything, absolutely everything, inhabited by Christ, and then he adds this breathtaking truth:

“Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.” (Colossians 1:19–20, MSG)

That’s not just poetry. It’s the heartbeat of the gospel.

The Universe Is Not Random—It’s Being Repaired

Paul isn’t talking about a spiritual tune‑up or a moral makeover. He’s talking about cosmic restoration. Every fractured relationship, every wounded heart, every system that’s bent out of shape- Christ is actively drawing it back into alignment. This means the universe isn’t spiraling out of control. It’s being re‑ordered. Re‑harmonized. Re‑connected. And the center of that restoration is the cross.

The Cross Is the Great Re‑Alignment

The cross wasn’t just a moment in history; it was the moment that changed history. Paul says that Christ’s blood didn’t just save souls; itrepaired creation.

The broken pieces of humanity
The dislocated parts of our world
The fractured systems we live in
The unseen spiritual realities
Even “animals and atoms,” the smallest building blocks of existence

All of it is being pulled back into harmony through Jesus. This is why the gospel is never just personal – it’s universal. It’s not only about my salvation; it’s about creation’s restoration.

Your Broken Pieces Are Included

If Christ is restoring the universe, then your life is not too small to matter. The same power that holds galaxies together is holding you together. Your broken pieces. Your dislocated hopes. Your fractured identity. Your weary spirit. They are not beyond repair. They are not beyond harmony. They are not beyond Christ. He doesn’t just fix what’s broken; He fits it back together in vibrant harmonies.

A Restored Life Is a Witness

When God restores you, He doesn’t hide the seams. He turns your healing into a testimony of His cosmic work. Your restored relationships become a signpost. Your renewed hope becomes a lighthouse. Your transformed life becomes a preview of the world Christ is making new. This is why Paul’s words matter today: your healing is part of the universe’s healing.

041020 “It’s a 3 alarm fire!” I woke up yelling a week ago, Tuesday morning, at 3:33 AM. It freaked me out. I sensed no present danger, so I proceeded to do what one does when they wake up in the middle of the night, while I asked God, “Why did I yell that?” I got no impressions as to why, and thought perhaps it meant things were really bad with the Corona Virus and I should be praying more. I did, and then went back to bed.

I was woken up at 9:00 AM to the deep rumble of engines, and to loud voices of men. It scared me. It took me a moment, or two, to realize my neighbor’s house was on fire and there were at least 6 fire trucks out front. Only the man of the house was home at the time, and he had just fallen to sleep when the smoke detector saved his life. He works the evening shift and gets home late.

When I went outside I learned my neighbors were okay, but the inside of the house had become disguised by blackness, and there was extensive damage to things that make up life, like family photos that once hung on the wall.

This morning it hit me that our lives can be disguised by blackness, evil, as well, but it seems to be subtle, over time, and not in a flash of flames. In other words, you change from who you used to be, but you don’t see it happening. I know it has happened to me.

Satan loves being deceitful!

My neighbours have taken a tighter hold of God’s hand today, as He walks with them through this time of restoration. I have a feeling God will use this opportunity to do some restoration work on their souls as well. When I was next door examining the damage up close, I saw a bright yellow, butterfly rise up out of the smoldering debris that was once bedroom furniture. It got my attention, beautiful life rising up out of what looks to be ruin.

Psalms 23:2-3 (The Passion Translation)
²He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love.
His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss.
³That’s where he restores and revives my life.
He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure
and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness
so that I can bring honor to his name.

God has had to restore life, real life, to me as well. Looking back, there have been times when I have drifted from God’s plans, and purposes for me, but God has, in a tender way, restored me, brought life back. He can, and wants to do this for you as well. It doesn’t matter what you have done, said, or how far you have gone off track. God loves you, and if you will ask for it, forgive you as well. If you took a good, long, honest look in the mirror you might see the years of blackness on you. God says, “come here, I can wipe that off, and restore you my child to be who I destined you to be. It’s my business, and I’m good at it.”