Steps to Restoration

Ezekiel 36:24 -28
24 " 'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

With respect to Israel, we see here 5 key steps to a restored relationship with God:
1. A return from the places where they were scattered
2. A cleansing from impurities
3. A gift of a new heart and a new spirit
4. A return to obedience of the commands of the Lord
5. A dwelling in the appointed place

No matter where the child of God has strayed away from his appointed postition in God's Kingdom, the loving father always seeks that his son or daughter return to him. Sin always separates us from God and the Bible is emphatic that the wages of sin is death.

But it does not have to be that way. God says in Ezekiel 18:30
Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.

Again, if we look closely at the passage above, we will notice that all 5 steps have been God-initiated. Dear friend, more than our desire, He is waiting with longing for us to return to Him. He longs to give us a new heart and a new spirit much more than we long to be restored to God.
And that is why Jesus bore our sins on the cross. The gift of God is indeed eternal life.

But then we might have a valid question:
If it's all in God's hands, what do I need to do?

Ezekiel 18:31 says,
31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Ezekiel 11:21 says gives us an insight into what could stop us from receiving that new heart and new spirit,
21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."

Dear friend, it is our desire for the sinful and the wordly that keeps us from receiving what the Father has for us. Let us renew our commitment to him and stay away from every semblance of sin. Soon we will find ourself in that blessed position of a right relationship with God.

God Bless!