Times of Refreshing
19 Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
- Acts 3:19-21
What is the most refreshing thing you’ve experienced? Maybe a weekend getaway after a difficult stretch of work. Maybe something more simple. Jumping in a cool lake after hours of sweaty, dirty work is certainly refreshing. Gazing at a quiet, night sky with a close friend refreshes the soul after a frantic work week.
Certainly, our lives have been difficult and frantic and unpredictable. We could use some refreshment. If we look ahead, we know that such a time will come. Jesus is now in heaven, seated at God’s right hand. But there is a beautiful promise in the text for today (and echoed throughout the New Testament) that a time will come with God will restore everything. A time is coming when Christ will return and set the world right. On that day the curse of death will be completely and finally undone; tears will be dried and brokenness mended; truth will shine its light, chasing away the dark cover of lies forever.
Can you imagine such perfect refreshment? More than simply relief from stress and pain and anxiety and pressure—true refreshment.
The beauty of the Christian life is this: God gives ‘times of refreshing’ even now. We get to experience a part of that future refreshment even now. We are invited into life with Christ now. We experience refreshment when God forgives our sins—what greater relief than finding out that our guilt has been erased? All the things about ourselves that we could cover up and hide because of deep shame have already been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ! But relief is not all there is. Forgiveness is not all there is. In Christ, our souls find rest and refreshment—like the sweetness of cold water in the midst of hard labor or easing into a hot tub after a long, tiring day; like reuniting with close friends and family after time apart or sharing a delicious meal after a grueling hike. We catch a glimpse of future glory in the Christian life today.
It happens when you discover something new and wonderful in scripture; when you share your deep questions of faith with a listening friend; when you receive Spirit-filled encouragement from a fellow believer; when you partake in the Lord’s Supper with your Christian brothers and sisters; when you witness God’s promise, sealed in baptism; when voices join together on Resurrection Sunday to declare Christ’s triumph; when you join in fervent prayer with a fellow member of God’s family; when you are overwhelmed by the goodness of God in your life. In all of these, “we taste in advance just a little bit of the coming together of heaven and earth” (NT Wright).
Even now, take some time to enjoy those times of refreshment from God. They are little graces for our lives. They are glimpses of glory that equip us for grateful service to Christ. In the midst of a chaotic, heated, and angry world, may you taste the Living Water and be refreshed.
~ Pastor Tim