The Goal of the Gospel... Restoration

    When God created the human race, He had very specific instructions.

"God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish and the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"
                                                                                                         -Genesis 1:28

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
                                                                                                          -Genesis 2:15

    God's original purpose for mankind is to rule and govern the earth on His behalf as His representatives. This becomes clear when you fast forward to the end of the Bible. What we find in Revelation 21 is a new city. It is much more than a city however. It is a new utopian society from which mankind rules with God. We find this theme again in Isaiah.

"They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat."
                                                                                 -Isaiah 65:21-22

    From Genesis to Revelation we see a common theme for the purpose of mankind; to build a society. To bring God's utopia of peace, equality, and justice to earth. The Bible begins with mankind in a garden, and ends with mankind in a city.

    The tragedy of the fall is that mankind lost its ability to represent God and govern on His behalf. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, we no longer lead our society as we should. Then came Jesus. The restorer. Lets look at the first public sermon of Jesus.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind. To release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
                                                                                                       -Luke 4:18-19

    In His first public sermon, Jesus makes it clear that His ministry is one of restoration. Throughout the New Testament concluding with a New Heaven and New Earth, we see Christ seeking to restore the human race back to the position of rulers and priests.

    Now what does this "restoration" look like on a personal level? God has placed dreams in you. He has put ambition in you. He has placed the desire and the drive to do good, and to influence your society and impact your world.

    But we are a fallen people. Fallen meaning we have corruption in us that prevents us from making the difference in society that we were intended to make. All over the planet we see mankind bringing pain and suffering because of these flaws. Perhaps you have seen them in your own life. You try to do good. You try to make an impact and be a positive influence but it never seems to work our right. Sometimes there are consequences to your shortcomings.

    Jesus Christ died on the cross to remove everything that holds you back from your dreams and rose from the dead to restore you back to a position of positive influence in the community. Embracing the savior means embracing your original destiny to make your world a better place while at the same time forsaking everything that's makes it an unfair painful place to be. This is the goal of the gospel, not only for the world or the human race, but also for you. To restore EVERYTHING that was lost and taken from you.