Excitement fills the air at my house for several reasons. I love plants and gardening; although our last snowfall of winter was only two weeks ago, already the blossoms on the Bradford pear trees are beginning to appear. Soon, behind the townhouse where I live, a white wall of blossoms will take their place among the many other plants that will begin to leave their winter dormant state. In the air, there’s excitement with plans for weekends of warmer weather, being able to enjoy the outdoors, and all the rest of the normal activities associated with spring.
This morning, as I was filling the bird feeders in both the front and the back, I actually took a couple of minutes just to take a look around at the wonderful signs of spring. I consider myself a student of life and never grow tired of learning, especially about the God whom I serve. As I was filling the feeder in the back yard, I began to think about a verse I had read earlier this morning during my own private devotional time: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding (Daniel 2:21). It is a wonderful thought, that in this world where Christians often feel out-of-place and lost, to remember that the Lord is in control. Winter had to have an ending because God had declared each season would have its time. It doesn’t matter what the world teaches nor does it matter what man may believe; it is God that established the seasons. It was God’s plan from the beginning that each season would only last so long: And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years (Genesis 1:14). Just as nighttime always yields to the morning, winter must always yield to the spring. This should generate some excitement within the heart of every believer!
Although I enjoy snow and cold weather there are many who don’t. In conversations with people at church, I have often heard people tell me they do not like winter because everything looks dead. Nothing looks inviting, and the cold certainly does not create any excitement about being outside. In my heart, I believe that one of the reasons we have winter is for that very reason – it is a testimony of God’s grace and mercy on the world – Jesus taught during his Earthly ministry something that is contrary to what the world tells us: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:44-45). I am a firm believer that Jesus would never tell those who believe in Him to do something that He first was not willing to do. Here, he tells us to love our enemies; For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16); But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Paul understood this as well; even writing, For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:10) to explain that while enemies of God, He sent His own son to reconcile us to Him. Both apostles Paul and John understood the importance of what God had done though his Son: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God (Romans 3:25), And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), and Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10). Knowing that God loves me (and you) so much that He would do this for us should give us great excitement!
We do absolutely nothing to deserve the changing seasons from winter to spring just as we do not deserve the grace that God has shown us. Spring serves as a reminder that there is life after death; there are blessings after great trials. I think of all the Bible stories where those who suffered through afflictions, dark nights, and storms so severe that it seemed their world would come to an end, just to witness God’s divine providence. Noah emerged from the flood with his family intact. Daniel was in the lion’s den overnight to emerge at dawn without a scratch on him and with the admiration and a new faith instilled in his king! The three Hebrew men thrown in the fire were able to emerge from that furnace not even smelling like smoke, but were blessed and became a testimony for God’s love of them. Lazarus died a beggar; when he woke up, he was in Paradise and walking and talking with Abraham and the saints of God of old! Jonah was in a whale’s belly for three days and emerged to preach his most powerful message ever from the Lord (and later squandered the chance that God gave him to continue faithful service).
Even in death, we have the promise of an eternal spring! No matter how dark your night, there will be a sunrise. No matter how cold your winter, there will be a spring! No matter what you have done in your life, there is a Redeemer! What a thought! Again, what excitement should we carry throughout the day just knowing we serve a God who cares about us!
