AVOIDING WHAT RESTITUTION CAN NOT UNDO!!!
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
— Exodus 22:6
Restitution is making amend of what you have previously done wrong, by repenting, confessing, asking for forgiveness from the victim and paying back what you have stolen or damaged!
It is a provision to amend what we have done in ignorance and especially before you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ! It is not expected of a believer in Christ Jesus to do what will cause you restitution on this journey, our watchword is "FOLLOW PEACE WITH ALL MEN, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD"(Heb.12:14). Incase as a believer you make mistake, there is provision to repent and do restitution. It is important to know this that restitution is part of the fruit of repentance, it is Biblical and it is not only for Old testament as some will say and quotes 2Cor.5:17.
Restitution is a Biblical doctrine which gives us opportunity to have a conscience void of offense towards God and man. The person whom you offended in the past may not know you have repented and that God has forgiven you, it is the fruit of genuine repentance to make restitution.
Our topic today is talking to believers in Christ, that as much as it lies in you "...live peaceably with all men."(Rom.12:18). It is not expected of a believer who is led by the Spirit of God to cause trouble and damages, the provision of restitution is not a license to misbehave, this is because there are some things that your restitution can not undo, you can do restitution on lost of things and damages of properties.
But what restitution can you make who casts abroad the fire-brands of error, or the coals of lasciviousness, and sets men’s souls on a blaze with the fire of hell? The guilt is beyond estimate, and the result is irretrievable. If such an offender be forgiven, what grief it will cause him in the retrospect, since he cannot undo the mischief which he has done! An ill example may kindle a flame which years of amended character cannot quench. To burn the food of man is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy the soul! It may be useful to us to reflect how far we may have been guilty in the past, and to enquire whether, even in the present, there may not be evil in us which has a tendency to bring damage to the souls of our relatives, friends, or neighbours.
The fire of strife is a terrible evil when it breaks out in a Christian church. Where converts were multiplied, and God was glorified, jealousy and envy do the devil’s work most effectually. Where the golden grain was being housed, to reward the toil of the great Boaz, the fire of enmity comes in and leaves little else but smoke and a heap of blackness. Woe unto those by whom offences come. May they never come through us, for although we cannot make restitution, we shall certainly be the chief sufferers if we are the chief offenders. Those who feed the fire deserve just censure, but he who first kindles it is most to blame. Discord usually takes first hold upon the thorns; it is nurtured among the hypocrites and base professors in the church, and away it goes among the righteous, blown by the winds of hell, and no one knows where it may end. O thou Lord and giver of peace, make us peacemakers, and never let us aid and abet the men of strife, or even unintentionally cause the least division among thy people.
In conclusion your restitution can not bring a soul back whom your mistake and error has taken to the other side of eternity. You can not imagine if you make heaven and someone is in hell because of you, calling and cursing you for being the reason. So avoid anything that your restitution can not undo.
This is more critical for those in ministry, pastors and teachers of the Word of God, please pray that God Almighty will show us mercy and lead us never to fall into errors that restitution can not undo in Jesus Name!
Have a great and a wonderful day!
God bless us all.
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
— Exodus 22:6
Restitution is making amend of what you have previously done wrong, by repenting, confessing, asking for forgiveness from the victim and paying back what you have stolen or damaged!
It is a provision to amend what we have done in ignorance and especially before you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ! It is not expected of a believer in Christ Jesus to do what will cause you restitution on this journey, our watchword is "FOLLOW PEACE WITH ALL MEN, AND HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD"(Heb.12:14). Incase as a believer you make mistake, there is provision to repent and do restitution. It is important to know this that restitution is part of the fruit of repentance, it is Biblical and it is not only for Old testament as some will say and quotes 2Cor.5:17.
Restitution is a Biblical doctrine which gives us opportunity to have a conscience void of offense towards God and man. The person whom you offended in the past may not know you have repented and that God has forgiven you, it is the fruit of genuine repentance to make restitution.
Our topic today is talking to believers in Christ, that as much as it lies in you "...live peaceably with all men."(Rom.12:18). It is not expected of a believer who is led by the Spirit of God to cause trouble and damages, the provision of restitution is not a license to misbehave, this is because there are some things that your restitution can not undo, you can do restitution on lost of things and damages of properties.
But what restitution can you make who casts abroad the fire-brands of error, or the coals of lasciviousness, and sets men’s souls on a blaze with the fire of hell? The guilt is beyond estimate, and the result is irretrievable. If such an offender be forgiven, what grief it will cause him in the retrospect, since he cannot undo the mischief which he has done! An ill example may kindle a flame which years of amended character cannot quench. To burn the food of man is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy the soul! It may be useful to us to reflect how far we may have been guilty in the past, and to enquire whether, even in the present, there may not be evil in us which has a tendency to bring damage to the souls of our relatives, friends, or neighbours.
The fire of strife is a terrible evil when it breaks out in a Christian church. Where converts were multiplied, and God was glorified, jealousy and envy do the devil’s work most effectually. Where the golden grain was being housed, to reward the toil of the great Boaz, the fire of enmity comes in and leaves little else but smoke and a heap of blackness. Woe unto those by whom offences come. May they never come through us, for although we cannot make restitution, we shall certainly be the chief sufferers if we are the chief offenders. Those who feed the fire deserve just censure, but he who first kindles it is most to blame. Discord usually takes first hold upon the thorns; it is nurtured among the hypocrites and base professors in the church, and away it goes among the righteous, blown by the winds of hell, and no one knows where it may end. O thou Lord and giver of peace, make us peacemakers, and never let us aid and abet the men of strife, or even unintentionally cause the least division among thy people.
In conclusion your restitution can not bring a soul back whom your mistake and error has taken to the other side of eternity. You can not imagine if you make heaven and someone is in hell because of you, calling and cursing you for being the reason. So avoid anything that your restitution can not undo.
This is more critical for those in ministry, pastors and teachers of the Word of God, please pray that God Almighty will show us mercy and lead us never to fall into errors that restitution can not undo in Jesus Name!
Have a great and a wonderful day!
God bless us all.
