Restoration and Rehabilitation of all things Spiritual

In this age of information and instruction there are a lot of TV programs on how to restore, remodel and rehabilitate homes and automobiles of all kinds shapes and sizes. It is from this perspective that the following draws from in metaphor and type of God's working through Love, Faith, and Grace, in the perfecting of His Character within those who have become receptive of Christ. Now the him here is meaning both sexes because when God created man, man had both operational within himself as a completed being of God's perfection. And therefore all things spiritual makes this reference as being in him. Or as being one in Christ and this is stated in metaphoric or figurative language as marriage in the uniting (being conjoined together) of two individuals as becoming one being. The first appearance of this is found in the beginning in Genesis which sets the course or standard for all scripture and spiritual things or knowledge of God. It should also be stated that the all things spiritual here made referenced to are us humans. Because we are not of the animal kingdom of God's creation and because we alone are to be the restored and rehabilitated of God through which we acquire God's character and nature (likeness and image) again. But unlike our metaphor which has a beginning and an end, mankind once entering (through redemption) into (through which is salvation caught or found waiting on us to receive) is an ongoing process of development until we reach Glory. For when we reach this place we'll see and know Him as He is.

 

Many year ago while we were stationed at Mtn. Home AFB in Idaho. I had a 1953 Chevy pickup which had a flat-head six and standard shift of course. Glenda my wife, of only a few months back then, would spend time sanding and cleaning that truck. But every time she got into it to go fishing or just a field trip into the hills around Mtn. Home that truck would over heat or stall to a stop. It got to where she refused to get into it but would help with the body prep for painting.
This is the background for our first illustration of rehabilitation because it ended up being incomplete. Because we only painted the truck in AF strato-blue with an orange peel finish. The rest of the work was left to others as we had to sell it due to a reassignment, after I had reenlisted, to South East Asian and Thailand to be exact.
Now you may ask what bearing does this have on Christianity or what kind of lesson can we learn from it? Many don't hear or understand the lesson of sifting sand or the building of barns and silos in the parables of Jesus. You see, I had not counted the cost nor was I prepared for the cost of doing a full restoration to the truck but only had enough to cover it with new paint. And this is what many people do with their lives by church attendance just as I had.

 

The next illustration will take place with a two story home in which the first floor is all that is torn-en out and rebuilt and the rest if left as is. This is the condition of many who have entered the first estate of redemption. And for what ever reason never pass through in the power of the Holy Spirit but instead are held back by their own self-sufficiency and religious behavior. They maybe saved but never come to salvation in Christ. They hinder God's intended purpose and working through love and grace in Truth and Faith. Even their worship forms are not as they should be in spirit and truth but remains as a works of the flesh.

 

The last illustration will be of a house which has stood empty for years and has been condemned by the city because of be vacant and is crumbling as it stands. We count the cost of doing a full restoration and rehabilitation from top to and including the foundation. We start this operation at the lowest point the foundation because it can't be on sifting sand and because the old is weak and beggarly and crumbling into dust from which it had its first beginnings. The whole house has to be raised above ground level in order to get a motorized track driven scoop and jackhammer under the house to remove all the old flooring and foundation material. This also requires the removal of the hot water heating system, water lines and drainage systems, as well as any support piers and pilings. Then we have to lay a new footer system around the perimeter of the house of sufficient strength to support the weight of the house. Then we have to also put in new footings for the piers and pilings needed which may require new floor jounces and stair case to the first floor. All this plus new wiring and plumbing alone with any other mechanical systems as needed. Then we'll move to the top attach area if we have not done so first to remove a chimney structure from top to basement. If the roof needs to be replaced this to is done alone with new trusses and roof boards as required, then new insulation is added. While this is being done the outside get a facelift as well with new eves, gutters and downspouts and trim and finally painting or other modern covering. With each level we remove all of the old wall materials in order to replace and update plumbing, wiring and floors not to mention the outside walls in which insulation is now required. Then all the interior walls are refinished and painted with the trim and flooring and finally the new appliances come in to make the job complete and the house livable or inhabitable again. 

HERE'S THE MEANING OF THIS METAPHOR, when we like this house have passed through death into disrepair and are made receive of God and His activities. Through His Love restored, we begin the restoration of all things by God within the ontological essence of the Spirit of Christ within us. For God then does what only He does by Himself through Christ's essence within us called Grace and Faith in all Truth and goodness. 

 

Now I've not quoted scripture verses nor used spiritual language but have instead used simple every day language to reveal a spiritual revelation called a mystery or secret of God's doing. For when we have come to your selves in this fashion we are said to be the true Israel of God, and the apple of His eye. Because we've acquired to nature of trust as Abraham and Isaac had, not to mention Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah, Shem and a few others of the ancient ones. It was in the process of the removal of the old things of this house, that the circumcision of the heart of this house and ours took place, not by our hands but by God's. Wherein we've become a new creature, as living stones, as the house of God's ruling and indwelling. In accord with John chapter 17 and the Lord's prayer there found. Now the winds of despair and the storms of life may come but where the Spirit of the LORD is there is great peace and rest. For even our outward parts are clothed in Christ in preparation for the departure and our joining to the LORD in the air. Then this structure will again be empty of its inhabitants. And will return to the dust or dirt from which it was made.

Now here's the warning we can all turn our backs to God just as Israel did and by so doing say NO to Him. And remain in our old sin nature and die a death of continual separation from Him and His Christ. For it was In Christ that God revealed Himself and His plane for all humanity. But because many there are who have and do refuse Him by their religious activities not knowing what it is they are doing. Paul the Apostle to the gentiles or nations gave warnings in Galatian and Hebrew letters which it would do well to search out.

Colossians 1:21-29  "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: If you continue in this faith (through divine Love) grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of this Gospel, which you have (herein) heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister (servant, steward and messenger); Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's (the Church) sake, which is the church:  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill (reveal the revelation of) the word of God; Even the mystery (secret) which had been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope (His Faith in action not known or seen) of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom (in Christ is found all wisdom as the valuable jewel or pearl of great price); that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working (through His Love and Faith in hopes darkness to God's activity of Grace), which works in me mightily."