Today as I am sitting at my desk, writing this article, sunlight floods into my office. It makes me very excited as it feels like spring is on its way. I love spring and the promise of new life that it brings. Maybe you can relate. The darkness and deadness of winter give way to the light and warmth of spring. Each year, I marvel at everything coming alive. I have already seen little sprouts coming out of the ground that soon will turn into beautiful crocuses, daffodils and tulips. Bright colours after a season of drabness. Spring is a time of hope and new life. No matter how harsh the winter was, eventually it will be spring; we can count on it because God promised it in the Bible:
“ As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat; winter and summer, day and night.” (Genesis 8:22)
So, winter eventually gives way to spring.
There is another reason why I love spring. Winter and spring seasons are so much a reflection of our lives, too. When we look around us in this world, we find much that is amiss; there is much trouble in this world; much darkness like the deadness of winter. There is war, famine, millions of refugees huddled in camps, airplane crashes, cyclones, murders, etc. When we reflect on the state of our souls, things aren’t much better there, either. We see sorrow, disappointment, failures, broken relationships, and we seem powerless to fix ourselves as well as the world around us. We long for spring, we long for new life for ourselves and for our world. We can’t fix ourselves any more than we can bring about spring. But there is a solution; there is hope! The solution lies in the message of Good Friday and Easter, which we will soon celebrate.
God knew we could not rescue ourselves and out of love he sent us his Son, Jesus.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again”. John 3:16-17.
We cannot save ourselves, but Jesus can. By trusting and believing in Jesus we can have new life; we can have peace and forgiveness for all our wrong doings.
Winter can give way to spring in our hearts! No matter how hard the winter has been, how much darkness and ugliness in our lives, Jesus can bring new life in our souls.
As you eagerly watch new life spring up all around you in the weeks to come, take some time to reflect on the ‘new life’ that Jesus wants to bring you. He can replace the deadness of winter with the new life of spring.
Any of the churches of Thorold would be honoured to walk with you and answer any questions you might have about Jesus and how you, too, can find that new life in Him.
Get rid of winter and welcome spring…..
