It is a beautiful day outside, and spring seems to be gaining a foothold here in Kentucky. I don't think it has won the war with winter, but soon enough winter will find itself boxed up and put away until next year. All that means warmer days, more daylight, and the return of bugs (It can't all be great right).
Spring is a time of hopefulness. The naked, leafless trees that looked so lifeless in winter will soon be clothed in lavish greenery. The brown, lifeless grass slain by the sun's autumn retreat will soon find the courage to breath again. Flowers are beginning to emerge in the field. The annual celebration of the Resurrection, Easter, is drawing near.
The rhythms of our world teach us something about life. There is a time to be born, a time of growth and productivity, a time of decline, and a time of death. The seasons serve as a reminder. What will happen to us in the winter of life? If we were to agree with the Hindu, the seasons would simply repeat themselves until we were good enough to exit the cycle. If we were to agree with the secularist, we would assume winter ends, but we know no more. But as Christians, we know that winter isn't the end.
For the believer, the last earthly winter give way to the spring of resurrection. Life begets life. Those who live by faith in Christ, have life now and will have life then. They are the heirs of light. A day is coming when we will no longer be subject to sin and suffering. And while, many will discard such thoughts as pipe dreams, we have the sure Word of God. For those with eyes to see, God's fingerprints are on everything. But those who have been blinded cannot see the proof right in front of their faces.
With spring's budding presence around us, let us renew are hope. Let us remind ourselves that we, like this world, are being made new. This time of year is merely a sampling of what is in store when God makes all things new (in the fullest possible sense). Let us look toward that day with joy and gladness. Even as we are excited for spring to arrive in all of its fullness, we should yearn more earnestly for Christ's return.
