‘Tis the Season (no, not that one!)

Articles

Philip C. Strong
04/18/23 - God

It’s that time of year again….yes, it’s “Tax Day,” but I refer instead to Spring- the season for the renewal of life. When the days’ brilliance begins to lengthen and the early grasses are lush from abundant showers. Blooms of every sort are bursting forth into brilliant kaleidoscopic displays of color. Mowers, trimmers, and blowers of every size, sort, and pitch hum (OK, more like “scream”!) their cacophony through the neighborhoods emitting the smells of sweet grasses, rich blossoms, and the pungent tanginess of wild onions and… well… weeds. It wouldn’t be “Spring,” after all, without weeds, would it now? And so we pull out and dust off our arsenal of sprayers, spreaders, hoes, spades, and the latest and greatest weeding tool to begin the annual war on the undesirables. There is no denying the signs, “Spring” has “sprung”!

But as we sharpen the blades and change the oil in the “mechanized artillery” in preparation for our yearly season of “war,” the spiritual lessons and reminders of Spring bloom also. That is, if we will consider that…

Spring reflects the goodness of God. Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s “invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made….” God’s eternal power is evident within the complexity and symbiotic (interdependent and mutually beneficial relationship) nature of the creation- the flowers of the plants feed the bees and insects who, in turn, pollenate the plants, which feed the creepy things and four-footed animals, which in turn provide sustenance to two-footed species. None of which happens “by itself” or “by chance.” The eternal power of God made and makes it happen! If you think about it (and please do so) God could have created a monochrome world consisting of blacks and whites and varying gray shades capable of sustaining a utilitarian existence for us. But He didn’t. Instead, He gave us a world that not only met all of our essential needs for life, but also exceeded even our wildest imaginations of wondrous beauty and phenomenally intense color- one that was “good for food” and “pleasing to the sight,” Gen.2:9. The goodness of God’s divine nature didn’t just provide us with a world to keep us alive. He gave us a world in which we could really enjoy living by exceeding our aesthetic desires also. Spring manifests the goodness of God’s divine nature!

Spring delivers a witness of God. In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas performed a miracle of healing at Lystra. The pagan people there were so impressed that they began to worship the pair, giving them names of Greek gods. To refute this and give proper glory to God for the sign, Paul responded with these words, “And in the generations gone by He (God) permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness,” vv.16-17vv.16-17. The warm rains and sunshine of Spring fuel the fruitful seasons of Summer and Fall. These are also evidence of God’s love and provision for all of His creation. They serve as a yearly witness to all who look, listen, smell, taste, and learn of God’s enduring endowment to the world.

Spring promises the renewal of resurrection. Though Winter left the trees and plants looking and acting “dead,” through God’s order and design, Springs resurrects them. From Winter’s dark cold slumber and stillness, Spring’s radiant beauty and vibrant life emerges. So too it is with our “death”- it is in reality just a peaceful rest in which we await the great resurrection through which we spring into eternal life (cf. John 5:28-29 and 1Corinthains 15). Then, “the body of our humble state” is resurrected “into conformity with the body of His glory,” Phil.3:21! As Paul assured the Corinthians, “If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body,” 1Cor.15:44b. God’s seasonal order provides the same lesson. As Winter’s deadness is followed by Spring’s life, so too our physically dead bodies will be resurrected to glorious eternal life. Thus, Spring not only reminds us of these things, it promises and assures them!

So as we marvel and enjoy everything “coming to life” again, take time while you’re mowing, blowing, and weeding to reflect on the goodness of God to provide us with Spring’s beauty; on the witness of God’s provision Spring brings; and on Spring’s promised renewal of resurrection at that great day of resurrection!