Spring, Redemption Season
The author was Joe Deegan, writing the article for The Gospel Coalition which was titled Reading Resurrection in The Book of Nature. It pointed out that all around us and especially during spring, death gives way to life.
Waking from sleep, as all creatures do is a type of resurrection, a sign of new life. How about the seasons, fall and winter, barren and dead, yielding to the new life of spring and summer? The metamorphosis of a butterfly from a caterpillar. A completely different creature! Hibernating animals seem to come back to life. New forests emerge after destructive fires. Decaying plants and animals prepare the ground for new vegetation. Lifeless seeds are planted to yield bountiful crops. Acorns are buried and become great oak trees. Babies are born from the depths of the womb. Why are there so many hints in our world of death giving way to life?
The Christian holiday of Easter that many recently celebrated, and its related Scriptures, tell us that our Creator became a man and died a sacrificial death, paying the penalty for our wrongs, for any and everyone who would believe in Him, then coming back to life again, resurrected, on the third day; literally conquering death.
This is the central theme of Christianity, that through this resurrection we can have a relationship, a friendship even, with our Creator. If this is true, perhaps this is why there are so many signs of resurrection in creation, especially right now during spring, they point us to that truth. New life from death, second chances, redemption.
Have you ever watched a movie featuring a complicated character with very real foibles, even serious character problems that finds redemption near the end of the story? A bad person doing something very good, even sacrificial, by the end of the film? That kind of story draws us in and captivates us.
Why?
Back to nature, “If creation is indeed telling a story, it’s safe to say that story has an Author. Christians would say it’s the very same Author as the Scriptures, which is why what we see in God’s creation supplements what we see in God’s Word” writes Deegan.
Going further he says of the Resurrection that is behind our Easter celebration “The Creator has rendered it in vibrant color at every corner of the universe. The more we learn to pay attention to it, the more we’ll see everything else in its light”.
What needs to be resurrected in your life? Do you need to create some good life-giving habits out of bad ones? Is your body wearing down from lack of exercise and good nutrition? Any relationships that have been neglected? Does your career need a jump start? Are there hobbies or classes you’ve always wanted to try? Is there anyone you need to give a second chance to or ask for forgiveness from? Could faith itself need a resurrection in your life?
It’s not too late. It’s never too late. Look around at what you see every spring. As you watch those dogwoods, pears, magnolias, and cherry trees blossom, followed by the rest of spring’s stunning panoramic foliage, take it as a reminder from your Creator that he never, never, ever, gives up on you.