Restorer or Destroyer?
In life, there are basically only two paths to choose from, that is to walk down, to live and to journey upon, you have the walk of real life, for you to follow and to adhere to, wrapped in the loving arms of Jesus, or just any other way, which will ultimately end in death; there are those that build up, help, assist, grow, develop, who are restorers, but then there are those who are the takers, the bullies, the mockers, the gossipers, the insulters, the thieves and robbers, that break down, steal and destroy lives, property and anything and everything that they come in contact with, so are you a “Restorer or a Destroyer,” are you into “Construction” or “Destruction” actively involved in “Building or in Tearing Apart?” Isaiah 58:12 “And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” John 1:23 “He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” Isaiah 40:3-4 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:” Isaiah 35:1-2 “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the Excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, [and] the Excellency of our God.”
Reviewing this verse, Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Now this is “Cities of Refuge” language, for Cities of Refuge were where the Priests, Ministers, where Salvation was available. Now the Priests were supposed to be “Road Builders,” to build bridges, raise higher the roads in low areas, so that even in flood times, the road was always above water level, to cut through mountains where necessary, anything to make the road wide, smooth, straight and easy to travel quickly to a place of safety and salvation. They were to be “Restorers of the way,” but unfortunately this is what often happened, the “Cares of this Life,” got in the way, they set up homes and business, and the “Spiritual Needs,” and Salvation of those around was neglected, so in essence they shifted from being a Restorer to being a neglectful destroyer, the sin of “Omission,” omitting to do the task requested. Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.” You and I are either a “Restorer or a Destroyer,” are we making straight paths, with loads of signs and directions, so that others can quickly find safety, sanctuary and salvation, or have we omitted this, and the paths of Salvation are now overgrown and making access to Salvation most difficult?
Matthew 13:3 “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;” and everywhere he went he was scattering seeds, on the roadway, road verges, back yards, fields, parks, just on everywhere he went, he was sowing seeds. Question; were these seeds the seeds of love, joy, peace, compassion, or were these seeds of discord, disharmony, grief and unrest? So as we traverse the road of life, on our daily interactions, are we a “Restorer or Destroyer?” What is the crop that springs up behind us? Is there even a crop? Would we wish a Combine Harvester to bring in the precious grain, or a forest fire to quickly destroy the weeds of failure and sin, to make it to disappear quickly from view, so that few would ever know what we had ever been neglectfully up to, “What you sow you Grow,” are you growing Life Eternal, or will you harvest a crop weeds, failure and destruction? Matthew 7:20 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” “What you sow you Grow,” so what is the evidence of your life displaying to all to see, are you a “Restorer or Destroyer?” Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Quote; “So will it be with all who behold Christ. The nearer we come to Jesus, and the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the less shall we feel like exalting ourselves. There will be a continual reaching out of the soul after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the heart before Him. At every advance step in our Christian experience our repentance will deepen. We shall know that our sufficiency is in Christ alone and shall make the apostle’s confession our own: “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing.” “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Romans 7:18; Galatians 6:14.” {AA 561} Quote; “We must make the apostle’s confession our own. “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” Romans 7:18. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14. {COL 160} Quote; “Look at the condition of the men who give themselves up to intemperance. Littleness, earthliness, degradation, mark their entire character. This is the result of their evil course. They have been walking in the way of their own heart, and in the sight of their own eyes, and are filled with their own devices. Their wretched homes are a hell, made so by themselves. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” [Galatians 6:7] In conclusion; Are you a “Restorer or a Destroyer?” But what is the evidence of your daily life saying to all those who view you?
