Spring is Coming

”For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

”I am so ready for spring!” My friend exclaimed. She wasn’t the only one. Nearly everyone I talked to shared the same sentiment. A mixture of weariness over the bleak clouds of winter and a hopeful anticipation of what was to come drove the remarks. As the final weeks of winter draw to a close and signs of spring begin to surface, the excitement builds.

We watch, knowing that spring with its promise full of new life, brilliant colors and the fragrance of flowering plants, can make even the darkest of winters disappear into but a memory.

Our world can be dark at times, clouded with news of evil celebrating the effects of sin. It can seem hopeless, fearful, chaotic. We can feel weighed down, forgotten, just like a bulb hidden underground. But just as spring is certain to return and with it usher in a brighter new day, scripture tells us that one day Christ will return ushering in a glorious new day for those who belong to Him.

There have been many times when I have looked forward to Christ’s return as a simple escape from the darkness or as an end to some circumstance, considering it more of an escape route than a joyous destination. Christ’s return will indeed free us from the darkness of this world, but the greater blessing is that we will be forever with Him. Just like the excitement that builds as we eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring, God’s children should live with the hopeful anticipation of His return, knowing that the glorious fragrance of His presence awaits. His return shouldn’t be just an every-now-and-then thought, but something that we daily anticipate. How differently might we live if we lived in eager anticipation of Christ’s return?

The Focal Point: When I look at this tulip I am reminded that just like spring, the King is coming!