What happens when we fall?
Well, in terms of our relationship with God, when we fall we are falling away from Him and His ways. Yet, it is what we do following every fall—every stumble of our tongues, words, actions, or deeds—that truly matters.
The Word says that ALL have sinned. Only Jesus was without sin, only God is blameless in all things. Because of this we know that each of us have, and almost certainly will, fall again. It is a part of life—the flawed self that was allowed at a tree in the Garden of Eden. Yet, despite the massive fall of man in the Garden, it was not the end. Because God is merciful.
Every time we fall, a series of choices are laid before us. Some may keep us down in a pit and cycle of sin, but others lead us to restoration—the foundation of changing who we have been for who God created us to be. And all of redemption and restoration flow from the Blood, Name, and mercy found in Jesus. They wait for us patiently… all we have to do is turn.
What should we do when we fall down?
Ideally when we fall down, our thoughts, our words and actions, should immediately turn to our Father. To the Creator of ALL. This first shift—even if not instantaneous—allows us to redirect our focus. By remembering God we realize we have sinned. We take responsibility for that sin, and we repent of it.
“‘Now, therefore,’ says the Lord,
‘turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.’
So rend your heart, and not your garments;
return to the Lord your God,
for He is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and of great kindness;
and He relents from doing harm.”
—Joel 2:12-13
Now, what comes next is often the most difficult step, especially if we repented for a sin we have faced before… it is disassociating with that sin. Not forgetting that we once faced this sin—after all, it is a part of our testimony of God’s mercy—but no longer agreeing with it.
We turn from it and return to God so that when that same temptation or test comes, we can change our behavior. This change is not always easy, yet, without it we can become stuck in a sin cycle that we seemingly cannot escape.
In all these steps, God is more than willing to help us. But we too must be willing. We have to turn and return, making the choice to behave in a different way when we reach the crossroad again—to behave like Jesus, doing what we see our Father doing. For, it is in our return to God—to the creation God crafted us to be—that we find the pureness of Heaven, and restoration to our Father. And, in a way, no matter how small or large the fall, we are like the prodigal son, returning home to our Father and being restored to the life He wants us to lead. A life that is good, full of richness, authority, and belonging.
“…he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said… ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ …”
—Luke 15:20-24
The Importance of Restoration:
“…I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”—Joel 2:25
When we return to God—leaving behind our sinful behaviors—God brings restoration. He restores and breathes into us new life. He restores the years that the locusts of our life have eaten. He returns us to a covenant relationship.
All it takes is rising to our feet and putting one foot in front of the other as we keep our eyes on our Father. Yes, sometimes we fall over the same thing not once, but a dozen times… yet, God is merciful and patient. He will help us rise to our feet and walk if we but ask Him. And by keeping our eyes on Him and not on the storm—our fears, doubts, temptations—we find that we can walk upon the water. Because with God, all things are possible, and His perfect love casts out fear.
“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”—Matthew 19:26
Peter walked upon the water with Jesus, and it was not until his eyes turned from Jesus to the storm around them that he sank into the waves. This is true for all of us as we walk with God. When the storms of trial, test, tribulation, and temptation come, the surest way to rise above the waves and find our restoration is to keep our eyes fixed on our Savior. We must not remove the gaze in our eyes from the love in His.
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.’
And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’
So He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”—Matthew 14:27-29
When we repent and begin to walk upon the water with our Creator, we find the truest restoration of all. The love, friendship, authority, and purpose only to be found in our Heavenly Father.
Conclusion:
To find true restoration, we must first return to God. God knows that we are imperfect, but He loves us still. After all, it was while we were still sinners that God gave His only Son for our sakes; to restore us to Him. That same Blood that was shed while we were but sinners is available today. It is available to pull us from the pit we have fallen into and put us in a place where, if we but keep our eyes on God, we will not leave.
“… For there is really no difference between us, for we all have sinned and are in need of the glory of God. Yet through his powerful declaration of acquittal, God freely gives away his righteousness. His gift of love and favor now cascades over us, all because Jesus, the Anointed One, has liberated us from the guilt, punishment, and power of sin!”—Romans 3:22-24 (TPT)
The light of God is ours to shine to the world. It is ours to not only restore us, but to bring restoration to all those who sin—the entire world.
Repenting, rising, returning, restoration… beautiful steps in God’s plan of mercy, His unfailing grace.
“‘… One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.’”—John 9:25
This year, let the Lord restore our sight. Let us not be blinded by the wind or the waves of sin and the grave but let us see clearly in the light of Heaven, in the glory and grace of God.
Let us walk in restoration knowing that while we are not worthy in ourselves or anything we could ever do, we are made worthy by God’s love. By the grace, mercy, Blood, and Name which is above every other name. The name of Jesus.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”—John 3:16-17