The horses graze adjacent to a budding pear tree in North Florida.
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 - Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (ESV)
Spring usually arrives early and is very short in North Florida. Come late February the trees often begin to blossom as they show signs of plants coming to life after a period of dormancy during winter. While our winters aren't as long here, they often come with a number of cold snaps, sometimes down into the teens, which for a period turn things from green to brown. But even when we still have some cold nights into early March, they don't usually reach the freezing point which means that the warming afternoon sun urges the plant life onward with bursts of beauty.
As Christians, spring reminds us of the New Life that we are promised if we are reborn in Jesus Christ. And while the changing of the seasons, when drab winter turns to beautiful spring, is a good reminder, it shouldn't be taken for a valid example of what being born again in Jesus really means. For most of the plants haven't died at all, they have merely gone dormant to protect themselves from the bitter winter, only to awaken like a bear from his den in hibernation and come forth with energy. But with the rebirth through Christ of we humans, we accept the New Life when we accept Him as our Savior but still end our mortal lives before going forth thereafter in our new selves, living with Him in our new home in heaven.
It's appropriate in our human existence that spring falls at the same time of our celebration of the Gift of Eternal Life which Jesus died to provide us. As we watch the plants come alive in color and purpose, we prepare for that day each year where we mark the moment when our chance for Eternity was given for us on the Cross. At that very moment when He died, we were forgiven for our sins. The only requirement left was for us to accept His most generous offer and believe in Him by faith. And if with our free will we decide to do just that, the beauty and glory of an earthly spring day will be just a pittance compared to the beauty and glory we will behold when we depart for heaven. It's truly indescribable how wonderful it will be.
Dear Lord, We thank you for the reminder of rebirth that the spring provides for us and we thank you for affording the opportunity for that rebirth that you gave us with the sacrifice of your only Son. Help us to make the right choice and believe in faith and follow Him so we might partake of the joy of Everlasting Life with you. We ask in Jesus' name, Amen.
Spring usually arrives early and is very short in North Florida. Come late February the trees often begin to blossom as they show signs of plants coming to life after a period of dormancy during winter. While our winters aren't as long here, they often come with a number of cold snaps, sometimes down into the teens, which for a period turn things from green to brown. But even when we still have some cold nights into early March, they don't usually reach the freezing point which means that the warming afternoon sun urges the plant life onward with bursts of beauty.
As Christians, spring reminds us of the New Life that we are promised if we are reborn in Jesus Christ. And while the changing of the seasons, when drab winter turns to beautiful spring, is a good reminder, it shouldn't be taken for a valid example of what being born again in Jesus really means. For most of the plants haven't died at all, they have merely gone dormant to protect themselves from the bitter winter, only to awaken like a bear from his den in hibernation and come forth with energy. But with the rebirth through Christ of we humans, we accept the New Life when we accept Him as our Savior but still end our mortal lives before going forth thereafter in our new selves, living with Him in our new home in heaven.
It's appropriate in our human existence that spring falls at the same time of our celebration of the Gift of Eternal Life which Jesus died to provide us. As we watch the plants come alive in color and purpose, we prepare for that day each year where we mark the moment when our chance for Eternity was given for us on the Cross. At that very moment when He died, we were forgiven for our sins. The only requirement left was for us to accept His most generous offer and believe in Him by faith. And if with our free will we decide to do just that, the beauty and glory of an earthly spring day will be just a pittance compared to the beauty and glory we will behold when we depart for heaven. It's truly indescribable how wonderful it will be.
Dear Lord, We thank you for the reminder of rebirth that the spring provides for us and we thank you for affording the opportunity for that rebirth that you gave us with the sacrifice of your only Son. Help us to make the right choice and believe in faith and follow Him so we might partake of the joy of Everlasting Life with you. We ask in Jesus' name, Amen.
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