Image Restored
Watch or listen to
the full sermon here.
Preached by Pastor Mike Woodard
Follow The Valley Church
We’ve spent the last several weeks walking through the story of God—the grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Each part of this story reminds us of God’s power, His love for humanity, and His ultimate plan for the world. Today, we focus on the final part of that story: the restoration that comes when Jesus returns.
Right now, we live in what you could call “the now and the not yet.” Through the cross, Jesus has redeemed us. His salvation is available to us today, but the final chapter—restoration—has not yet happened. We still live in a broken world filled with pain, grief, sickness, injustice, and death. Yet Scripture gives us hope: this will not last forever.
Revelation 21–22 paints a breathtaking picture of what is to come. John describes a new heaven and a new earth, a better creation where God dwells with His people. In this restored world, there will be no more death, crying, grief, or pain. Every tear will be wiped away by God Himself. What was lost in Eden will not only be restored, but made even greater through Christ.
At the center of this vision is the truth that Jesus wins. Revelation reminds us that while the details of the end times can be debated, two things are certain: we must be ready, and Jesus will be victorious. The curse of sin will be lifted, the tree of life will return, and we will reign with Christ forever. We will see His face without separation, and His light will shine eternally.
This perspective changes how we live today. Even in moments of doubt, pain, or despair, we can cling to the promise that the story is not finished. Like the famous misprinted headline declaring Dewey’s victory over Truman, the world may try to declare defeat too early—but the truth remains: Jesus wins.
From creation to the cross to the coming restoration, the thread of God’s story is clear. He is sovereign, He is faithful, and He will make all things new. The victory belongs to Jesus, and for those who place their faith in Him, that victory is ours to share for eternity.
As Billy Graham once said, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. Everything’s going to turn out alright.” That’s the promise we hold onto—the assurance that no matter how broken the world seems, Jesus wins.