Anyone Know A Good 'Repair Shop'?

One of the quirks of my Dad was his insistence that we only buy things from stores that – in his words – would service what they sell.   Well for years that worked – but eventually fewer and fewer stores had service departments.  And for good reason:  it was cheaper for folks to buy a new toaster – than to have a broken toaster repaired.   I remember the day I first broke the news to my dad that stores no longer repaired broken things.   “Well then what I’m I to do with my broken toaster?”  “Well Dad, you just need to throw it out.”  “Throw it out.  I can’t throw it out!” And so my Dad kept everything – never throwing out anything – determined – that someday -- that toaster – indeed – could be fixed.  

God is with my Dad!  In God’s eyes broken things can eventually be fixed.   And so God still has a service department specializing in repairing broken things – especially broken – penitent – remorseful things – ‘things’ like you and me.   For as Psalm 147:3 reminds us – “[The Lord] heals the broken hearted -- and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3).   For in God’s eyes, nothing is ever wasted.  And so – “God uses broken things.” -- in the words of Vance Havner.  For God knows – “…It takes broken soil to produce a crop – broken clouds to give rain – broken grain to give bread – broken bread to give strength.  It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume.  It is Peter weeping bitterly who returns to greater power, than ever.”  - Vance Havner.  

And so out of remorse – your bitter tears – return to greater power!   For God does bless out of brokenness – for God truly cares.   

But how?  Well ultimately through the Gospel – through the Cross – through The Word, Jesus.  But what aspect of the Gospel ultimately heals a pulverized – traumatized life?   In a nutshell: the comfort and forgiveness of God.  It’s striking: as Isaiah speaks of healing and restoration coming out of contrition – of peace coming like a river -- and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream (Isaiah 66:12) – Isaiah portrays God in a very nurturing, comforting way – as one who “…will nurse and [carry us] on her arm…[and dangle us] on her knees.  As a mother comforts her child, so [the Lord] will…comfort [us]…”  (Isaiah 66:12-13).    The inference:  God is more eager to nurture us – than we are to be nurtured; God is more eager to forgive – that we are willing to receive forgiveness. 

        

One of the seldom-told aspects of George Washington’s life was George’s love of books – specifically his love of borrowing books from lending libraries.  One of the great stories in that regard – was when George borrowed the book “The Law of Nations from the historic New York Society Library but forget to return it; translated:  it became past due.  But the New York Society Library never made a ruckus even though they knew it was past due.  After all the borrower of ‘The Law Of Nations” was indeed the father of our nation – a national hero – our very first president – so you just let ‘past due’ – pass.  And so ‘The Law of Nations” stayed on a bookshelf at Mt. Vernon, Washington’s beloved home, for 221 years.  

But then in 2010 – the staff of Mt. Vernon got convicted – got remorseful – felt penitence – and decided to ‘come clean’ – and acknowledge – they had book that didn’t belong to them.  And so they confessed:  they were 'in the wrong' – help!   And with that they returned the book to the New York Society Library, and faced their fate.  Specifically they faced their fine.  Can you guess the over due fine on Washington’s book?  Why it was over $300,000!  But surprisingly the New York Society Library ‘waved the fine.’  Translated: the New York Society Library showed mercy, the New York Society Library showed forgiveness.  Why?  Because they loved ‘old George.’ 

God shows mercy and forgiveness to us – because God loves 'old us' – as well.  But we too need to ‘come clean’ like ‘old George’ -- declaring: we screwed up.  Help!   

And so cry help!  For Isaiah is correct:  “…As a mother comforts her child, so [the Lord] will…comfort [us]…”  (Isaiah 66:12-13).   Be comforted even as you confess, for “…these are the ones I look favor on” God declares through prophet Isaiah.  “…those who are humble and contrite in spirit, who tremble at my word…”  (Isaiah 66:2).   

Be humble, knowing that out of humility comes transformation, for God does have a service department specializing in redeeming – remaking – repairing – the most traumatized – broken things -- including broken people.  

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