Let’s Make it Right

Think about a typical day at a local supermarket. A customer standing at the service desk, returning a product that didn’t work. They have the receipt and the faulty item, and want the situation made right.

What is the Restitution?

While Forgiveness deals with the guilt of your sin (that’s God’s part), Restitution is the act of putting right what is wrong. It is the “horizontal” action that proves your “vertical” confession was real.

It goes this way: If you’ve stolen, you return. If you’ve lied, tell the truth. If you’ve damaged a reputation, you repair it. You can’t just say, “I’m sorry” and keep the stolen goods in your pocket!

The necessity to make things right isn’t just an old tradition; it’s found throughout the Scriptures.

Before the Law: God warned Abimelech in a dream to restore Sarah to her husband, Abraham or face the consequence of death. Genesis 20

Under the Law: In the Old Testament, if you stole an ox, you didn’t just give one back; you gave five! Exodus 22:1. If you defrauded a neighbour, you restored the principal plus a Leviticus 6:5. God made sure the victim was truly restored.

Under Grace: Zacchaeus in Luke 19 went on to restore fourfold! Jesus’ response was “Today salvation has come to this house.” His willingness to restore was proof that his salvation was authentic.

Why is this so important to restitute?

• A Clear Conscience: Paul said he strived to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men, Acts 24:16. An unpaid debt or an uncorrected lie is like a leak in your spiritual authority. You can’t preach with boldness when you have a skeleton in your closet!
• Shutting the Accuser’s Mouth: Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Revelation 12:10. When you hold onto the spoils of your old life, you give him legal ground to harass you. Restitution takes that ground away.
• A Powerful Testimony: Imagine the shock of an unbeliever when a Christian returns money they stole ten years ago. That is a louder sermon than any words spoken from a pulpit!

The Result of a Clean Audit

Here is a well-known testimony from a young man who realised he had obtained his job with a forged certificate. For years, he felt a ceiling over his ministry. Finally, he went to his boss, confessed, and offered his resignation. He was ready to lose everything for the sake of the truth.

Do you know what happened? His boss was so moved by his honesty that he didn’t fire him! He said, “I’ve never seen such integrity.” The ceiling over his life shattered, and the peace that flooded his heart was indeed marvellous light.