Well, It’s another Sunday morning. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11, English Standard Version (ESV).
Well, spring time is so close now, the spring equinox is on March 20, 2021. I for one am ready for spring to get here. I am ready for the cold winds and the monotone colors of winter to give way to the bright and cheerful colors of spring. I am looking forward to seeing the daffodils and other spring flowers in bloom. In The Song of Solomon 2:11-13 (ESV),it says it like this, “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.”
When I was a young boy growing up in the southern part of Illinois I truly loved to ride my bike or walk around the small community of Samouth. There were several big fields just down the road from our house that I always ended up going by while I was out exploring. One of these fields in particular always was exceptionally beautiful during spring time. When God said it was time, this field would become ablaze as far as you could see with beautiful spring colors from wild flowers and even weeds springing up and taking in all of the spring rains and the wonderful warm sunshine.
I think the warmth of the sunshine after the long cold winter was what I liked the best and I still do to this day. It feels like God is giving us a hug, and it warms you throughout.
I love the freshness in the air from the newly-awakened plants and the other smells that remind me spring is here. The flowers and even the occasional smell of bonfires from people cleaning up after the winter months. This is always a wonderful reminder we are past the cold times of winter. I love the visual masterpiece our LORD paints also. Everyday He adds to His painting more of the beautiful colors He chooses so carefully, making sure it is absolutely perfect. Some may look close, but none of them are ever the same as the other, but they are always all extremely breathtaking.
I believe God gives us these beautiful seasonal moments in our walk to refresh us and remind us that no matter what, He has us throughout all of those cold times, throughout the bad times. See, each of our lives has its ups and downs, our warms and colds. The truth is, we would all love to have nothing but the up times and warm times, but during our short walk on this rock we will have to accept the down times and cold times along with them.
Here’s some really great news, just like the spring rains that come and wash away all of what the cold winter months have left and refresh this rock called Earth we walk on, through our great LORD and Savior we are given the chance to be washed clean and refreshed and made anew. All we need to do is accept Christ Jesus into our hearts, believe that He lived and died for our sins and rose from the dead. We just need to ask with true faith and a sincere heart for our sins to be forgiven and as simply as that, they are gone. We are forgiven and are anew. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) tells is how to be saved, it says this, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
So I ask you, has your spring begun? Are you anew? Are you walking with Christ Jesus in your life? These are tough questions and it is easy to just say ‘yes’ to them, but are you really anew?
Some will say, “I want to be, but I have failed our LORD and He surely doesn’t want me with Him.” The truth is, we all stumble. We trip and fall constantly. I think I trip and fall more than anyone, but through my faith I know I am forgiven and I get up and continue on my life walk.
Honestly, It’s whether you get back up when you fall or you lay there and wallow in the muck and mud that makes the difference. There are some that like to wallow in the mud, they like that dirty lifestyle, and they tell themselves and others that this walk we are on is all there is in this life, it all ends at death. I personally believe God’s promise of what waits on the other side. In John 14:1-3 (ESV) Jesus tells us this, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
I thank our Lord each and every day for what He has done in my life. He truly has made a difference in my walk. I pray you do the same. I know without Christ Jesus in my life my walk would have been impossible, I thank Him for making my path clearer and easier to walk. I know that our Lord does this all out of love and asks so very little from us in return. Christ wants us to love one another. We are told this thirteen times in the new testament, so let’s make sure we do what our Lord tells us to do. Share your love with others, lend a hand to those in need. Call that shut in neighbor and check on them, take them a meal and tell them they are loved. Check on your friends and tell them you love them, share God’s abounding love with others. I would love to do that with you right now, God truly loves each and every one of you, and so do I.
