Restored In Twenty Seconds

“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7

It was said by a veteran missionary to China many years ago, who remained on the mission field about forty years, that only twenty seconds was needed to be restored to fellowship with God.  How is it that she came to this conclusion, and what was it based upon?  First of all, being in the middle of unbelief, working among those who for the most part had not true faith, she was daily confronted with her own need, and incapacity to meet the needs of others, but also, of the absolute imperative to walk by faith in the God who had called her to trust Him for everlasting fruit.  In other words, her concise statement was the result of conscious need that of necessity had to be met, but also, of the knowledge of God’s faithfulness, based upon His promises, that when there was failure or sin, she was enabled to regain a postition of faith concernin her calling and responsibility, being restored to true, Spirit-filled fellowship with Christ.  Though only twenty seconds was necessary to cover the required ground, the certainty of the restoration was a constant, certain  reality.  Since God alone can do the work of God, so her fellowship with Christ was of utmost importance, and had to be safeguarded above all else.

Then comes the question, “What did she do in order to be restored, and know the very real cleansing from sin, and the quickening of the Spirit?” She learned to come the way of the cross.  What does this mean?  In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he wrote: “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Cor. 1:17) Paul writes of a spiritual reality that faces every Christian, or disciple of Christ.  It is the fact of “…none effect.”  In other words, there is a ministry that is useless, and fruitless.  The cross is very real, and the truths concerning the cross are eternally set in stone for the believer to lay hold of, and to live by.  But, if those truths are not grasped, and faith is not exercised according to those truths, then the spiritual effect will not be lasting.  Even in his letter to the Galatian believers, Paul wrote, referring to a different set of circumstances, the same truth.  He wrote concerning his spiritual work among brethren, saying: “…lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” (Gal. 1:2)  It is very possible that the believer can miss the mark of walking with God, serving God according to His ways by the Spirit.  Even though the great truths of the Gospel are like an immoveable mountain, one can lose sight of it, and defer to the ways of men, the means of men, to try and accomplish the work of God.  Paul declares to us that this must not be.  One’s life is to count for Christ; that which is done by HIM will last.

So, what does it mean, in the space of twenty seconds, to be restored to communion with God?  It means, first of all, that there is a consicousness of need, a conviction of missing the experience of the presence and power of God. This leads to the cry of the heart, which God is always waiting to hear.  Someone has written that God “…waits to be wanted,” but that He will not breach the door of the heart, but is waiting for it to be opened from the inside. Thirdly, there is the coming to grips with the word of God declaring the mercy and grace of God, and His faithfulness, not only to cleanse the heart from sin, but to restore the soul.  In twenty seconds, there is this miraculous meeting between the believer and the Father.

Dear Father, Restore us quickly.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.