A promise of restoration

Everyone knows that the recent L.A. fires have decimated thousands of homes and structures, with at least $350 million in damage to L.A. public facilities and at least $250 billion overall. This monetary damage pales in comparison to the tragedy of at least 28 individuals losing their lives.

In many ways, our community is still reeling. Recovery has begun, but it will be a long, arduous process. And the chaos isn’t over. Since the fires were contained Southern California has experienced intense rain that has caused mudslides. And it continues to get worse, with rain creating toxic runoff and sending debris all over the area.

Suffice it to say, I have had a lot of time to grieve, pray, and reflect. I have mostly felt overwhelmed. I cannot wrap my mind—or my faith—around what has happened over the last six weeks.

As I continue to struggle, I’ve been brought back to two parallel and paradoxical promises found in God’s Word. And, while I do not pretend to have all the answers, I have been able to find a level of comfort and confidence that I think may be an encouragement in the months and years of recovery ahead.

The Bible is clear: The world isn’t going to be completely restored through human effort. The world is broken and we cannot fix it. That’s why Romans 8:18-22 tells us that all creation groans as it awaits the coming glory that will be revealed.

These verses use words like decay, frustration, and suffering and, if we’re being honest, we see evidence of this reality across the nation and around the world. Every day, we see human rights and religious freedom crises in the news and we hear testimony of human suffering.

Every disaster has brought this into clearer focus. Tens of thousands are displaced. Homes are destroyed. Livelihoods are ruined. The pictures are staggering. But they cannot capture what it’s like to walk a burned-out street, feel the stillness, hear the quiet, and know that the rain we hoped for is bringing destruction of its own.

In short, I and all of L.A. have experienced a world in decay. And it’s an experience we will not soon forget. But Praise God, that’s not the end of the story. We are not left with decay and destruction. Suffering is not all that there is. Instead, we are offered hope in the midst of suffering.

This is not a cliche or a platitude—two distinctly unhelpful categories when faced with real hardship in the world. Instead, it is a tried and tested promise. It is assurance of better things to come.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul declares that the affliction we experience now is preparing for us an eternal glory beyond all comparison. This does not make light of our hardships here on earth. On the contrary, the Bible is distinctly realistic about evil and suffering and we should be too. But it does give hope.

“I am making everything new.” That is Revelation 21:5. And that is our hope. Notice two things. First, we’re not our hope. Politics aren’t our hope. Money, fame, wealth, status, security, and planning aren’t our hope.

The Bible is clear, revealing that God is the one who will make all things new. That does not mean we don’t have a role to play. We can and should work to be the hands and feet of Christ, especially in places and at times when suffering threatens to overwhelm those around us.

But we are not ultimately responsible for restoration. That is God’s role.

Second, notice the full and complete restoration. It isn’t just some things that are being renewed. It’s everything. Nothing will be forgotten.

That is a tremendous promise. Earlier in that same chapter, John doubles down on the restoration, saying “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.”

Let that sink in.

That is the promise. To you, to me, and to the people of Los Angeles. All these horrible, unimaginable things, all the death and destruction, will not have the final word. Restoration is coming.

That is not to say that it will be easy or quick. But it will be done and He who has already overcome the world will do it. May that be our hope. May that be what we cling to as we do the hard work of rebuilding and healing. May that truth strengthen us to continue on this hard road.