I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard over the past couple of weeks, “I’m so glad that spring is finally here.” Though I haven’t taken a scientific poll, it seems that for many, spring is a favorite season. I can certainly see why (excluding the possibility of allergies). From seemingly dead branches, blossoms burst forth in an explosion of color and beauty. Out of plain patches of ground, jonquils and tulips erupt into the full splendor of blooms. Where once there appeared to be nothing, there is now color and beauty. Long dormant lawns, suddenly show new sprouts and grow into lush green turf. Quiet winter mornings are now enlivened with the voices of newly returned songbirds as we awake to their voices of praise.
Spring is a time of new life. It is a period of renewal. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, we are doubly blessed. Not only do we receive God’s gift of spring, we experience spring at the same time we celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The link between spring and Easter seems so appropriate because the promise of Easter, like the promise of spring, is about new life, renewed possibilities, and restored beauty.
Easter is the foundation of the Christian faith. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the fundamental message of hope which puts the “good” in the good news of Christianity. No matter how dark today may seem there is a new day that is dawning. No matter how dead a dead end may appear, God is at work bringing new life. Death and darkness do not have the final word. Light and life are God’s eternal response. The empty tomb reveals how God works in the world. God speaks words of renewal, restoration, and revitalization.
Easter is a message for us not only at times when we encounter the end of physical life, but all through life. Certainly Easter is not less than the promise that we will be raised from the dead. However, it is much more than this. Ultimately, the resurrection is not only an event; it also is the principle by which God works in the world and in our lives. God is continually speaking words of renewal, restoration and revitalization to our world and to our lives. God continues to create new possibilities and new beginnings. For every relationship that is strained and broken, God offers the possibility of reconciliation and restoration. For every sickness and health crisis, God provides healing – if not for our bodies then certainly for our spirits. For every dead end we sense in our life, God supplies a new beginning. For every mistake, God offers forgiveness, a new start and a transformed life.
I am reminded that in Romans 1:20, Paul states, “Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.” In the season of spring we see annually the truth of God’s resurrection power. Through spring we see that God delights in bringing forth life and savors opportunities to bring renewal. So, I pray that you experience God’s eternal springtime as you live in the promise of God’s resurrection principle.
If you would like to view past editions of Moments with Mike, follow this link: https://corridordistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/