I do not like winter. I like warm. I’d live at the beach if God would send me there. Don’t get me wrong; I live in Kentucky and I’m a Kentucky girl. However, I would leave it from after Christmas until April if I could. Don’t like cold, don’t like snow, and don’t like ice!
But I do like spring. I like warm sunshine, birds chirping, thunderstorms (with nothing threatening like tornadoes or flooding), and butterflies flitting about. I’ve had an arrangement on my desk at work all winter long to remind myself that spring is coming.
I welcome the signs that spring has arrived. New life appears in blooms, butterflies, and birds with their nests. Seeds that lay dormant in the cold ground burst forth with buds that open to reveal bold colors and sweet aromas. The very air we breathe is clean and fresh from spring rains. What a wonderful season God has given to us.
…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.
Song of Solomon 2:11-12
How appropriate that the season of new life on this earth is the time when we celebrate new life in Christ Jesus. I know the world views Easter as a time for a cute bunny that delivers colorful baskets filled with all kinds of goodies. And that’s fun. I enjoyed watching my own kids delight when they were young. However, as I’ve grown older the true meaning of Easter has overwhelmed me. Jesus died for me, but He didn’t stay dead. On the third day He rose from the tomb and defeated death.
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”
Matthew 28:1-7
Just as signs of new life signify spring has sprung, there are signs of new life that signify Jesus is living in me. The fruit that appears when one has new life in Christ is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22). Like the fruit of spring, this fruit starts out as a bud and develops as I mature as a Christian. The colors and aroma of my life will draw people to Jesus just as a flower draws bees, butterflies, and birds. How wonderful is that!
Celebrate spring!
Celebrate Easter!
But most of all,
Celebrate the One who gives new life,
Jesus Christ!
Ginny Holcombe
