I typed in “I want to reclaim” into google, just to see what came up. Some of the “helpful” hints that ended the sentence for me were “my life,” “my body,” “my time,” “my purpose,” “my identity,” and “my business.” In browsing the various links that come up when googling “reclaim,” I learned we can reclaim land, cities, power, positions, and titles. We can even reclaim our country, our religion or our heritage. And, of course, reclaiming wood and furniture is a popular pastime/business.

But when I think about my faith and God, what does reclaim mean?

To claim back; to take back; to call back, to purchase back, to make right

My faith tradition teaches that God (as told in Genesis) created the heavens and the earth and he filled the earth with life. Plant life. Sea life. Animal life. And human life. Then God declared it all good.

But.

There’s always a but.

But the enemy snuck in. And the enemy brought everything that’s opposite of Re. He brought the “d” words (which would be a whole other study).

Division. Disobedience. Discord. Disorder. Death.

In Matthew 13, Jesus compared it to a field that the farmer had sown with good seed.
But an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.

The enemy has come in and claimed the land and with the seed representing people, he has infiltrated God’s people as well.

Jesus also tells us the enemy, the thief, comes to steal, kill and destroy.

However, there’s another but.

But God.

But God reclaims that which the enemy has stolen. Which is us. He has made us right, purchased us back, called us out.

Romans 3:21-22 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him… We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Ephesians 1:7 He (God) is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

1 Peter 2:9 But… you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

God has made you right with him, he has purchased you back from the enemy, he has called you out of the enemy’s territory of darkness.  He has reclaimed you and declared it good.