It is officially the spring season, and for me, it comes not a moment too soon. A lot of ink has been used to describe this seemingly magical time of year when the temperature warms, leaves appear, and green grass and dandelions grow. Webster's describes spring as, "an early or flourishing stage of development." Metaphorically, we associate spring with youth; summer with adulthood; and fall with old age. Spring can be delightful, both in seasons and in life.
No matter what age a Christian may be, his inner man is always in the spring of life. Scripture says, Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (II Corinthians 4:16 NKJV). If we are doing the will of the Lord, our spiritual strength is flourishing and developing every day. What a pleasant thought for those who are no longer "spring chickens!" Instead of dreading the autumn of life, Christians welcome every day because of the hope and promise of eternal life (Titus 1:2; 1 John 2:25), while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
It may be that spring is something of a foretaste of what heaven will be like. The apostle John, in seeing heaven, heard the voice of God say, Behold, I make all things new (Revelation 21:5). In heaven, there will not be any more death or sorrow, as there is on earth (Rev. 21:4). Instead, there will be life anew, an eternal life that lives in the presence of God. In the spring, things that looked dead are now alive in vivid colors. In heaven, those who died will be alive forevermore! And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:2-3).
Do you have the hope of eternal life? These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God (1 Joh 5:13). The only one who can give you eternal life is Jesus (John 17:2). What must you do to receive eternal life from Jesus? Believe that He is the Son of God (John 8:24). Repent of your sins (Luke 13:3). Confess that Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Be baptized to have your sins washed away (John 3:5; Acts 16:22). Then, you must keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 1:21), living a life devoted to and pleasing to Him. Don't delay to obey. Spring will soon be gone, and so will our earthly lives. Today is a beautiful day to be born again (John 3:3,5).
Brotherly, Jamie
