“I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings” (Ez. 36:11).
Whoever heard of anyone breaking down and then coming back better than ever? Our cynical world says sarcastically: “One strike, and you’re out!” “Opportunity only knocks once; if you missed it, too bad.” “If you’ve had a divorce, or a stroke, or gone bankrupt, you’ll never recover completely, you’ll never be the same again.” “Once you’ve had it, you may as well give up!”
That is not the Lord’s report. Here, He is addressing a group of dispossessed people taken captive 550 miles to the northeast of their homeland. They were uprooted and removed from every kind of living they had ever known. The Lord is promising them a release, a return, a recovery, and a restoration:
“I will bring you back to where you were before your trouble started. I will do better to you than at your beginning. You will not only make a comeback, you will be better than ever.”
As soon as you and I became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, a whole world of promises opened up to us. All these reassuring promises tell us to expect things to get better, that our life can be improved upon. The world cannot promise this to us, but the Lord can and does.
Perhaps you feel as if you have lost everything, that it’s too late for you. If so, I have good news; the Lord is about to do great things for you!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.