Redeemed Elegance

One of the saddest byproducts of brokenness, failure, set-backs is the belief that I’m forever ruined because of brokenness, failure, setbacks.

But such belief is utterly unbiblical.  For scripture teaches:  no matter the calamity – there’s always a new day, because of Jesus.   I love the way God cements this in Joel 2:25+26 – “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame…” (Joel 2:25-26, ESV, emphasis added).   

Where do you feel ashamed?  Where do you feel like you’ve been thrown on the trash heap of life -- life is over – you’re ruined – the locust have won!   

Hear the good news – the locust has not won – God has won – for Prophet Joel is right -- God wants to deal wondrously with you!  

Ross Hill tells of a man who had just gotten a divorce.  Even though he had dealt with the sin involved, the man was still racked with shame -- convinced life was over.   Just then he noticed a magnificent, colored vase on Ross’ credenza.  “What’s that?” -- the man asked.  “Oh that’s my Redento Raffinato.”  “What’s a Redento Raffinota?”  “Oh that’s Italian for Redeemed Elegance.”  “Tell me more.”  “You see,” Ross went on to explain, “this particular vase is blown from broken pieces of glass that fell off of the artist blow pipe.  But rather than throwing out the broken pieces, the artist picked up the broken pieces, and re-melted them, reforming them into Redneto Raffinato, Redeemed Elegance.  But guess what, Ross continued.  The Master Artist, God, wants to do the same thing with you!  God wants to pick up your broken pieces and reform them into something colorful and magnificent – redeeming you into Redento Raffinato, Redeemed Elegance!

God wants to redeem you into Redento Raffinto, Redeemed Elegance.  I mean no matter where you are broken – whatever the failure or calamity – God wants to take your broken pieces and reform you -- redeeming you into redeemed elegance!  For God has no desire to throw you on the trash heap of life.  Rather God wants to embrace you, restoring “…to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (Joel 2:25).

For we don’t need any more shame and blame.  No what we need is more healing - the balm of Gilead --  looking into the eyes of a God who doesn’t condemn us – but a God who restores us – dealing with us – embracing us—loving us--wondrously!