Into the Fire

Winter is full of darkness. Evidence of death. Although there are some beautiful characteristics of the season, by its end most of us look with welcome anticipation to Spring. New growth, life coming back in the trees, the luxurious colors of buds and early blooms. Resurrection.

The sun begins to warm us again, instead of casting austere beauty and reflection on icy snow packs. The rains seem less cold, although in early Spring, they’re frequent and even slow to relent. But the blooms push up and display the season, regardless of the taunting weather, assuring us winter will be overcome. Again.

Of course, where you are, it might be totally different. Perhaps seasons come and go without much notice, blending rather than declaring their succinct differences. I’m willing to wager there is a winter of sorts, even if it’s only in your soul.

This brings to mind the pleasure of the sunshine. I enjoy it more than ever at this time of my life. Raised in the habitat of much rain, although I’m used to it, I now prefer the hot sunny days to the wetter, soggy ones. You might find it hard to believe—because I certainly do—people in my area actually start hoping it will rain after we’ve had a week of 80 degree temperatures in the summertime! Amazing. It’s not like we won’t have plenty of it in the fall and even more in the winter. It’s a given—that’s why we’re so green around here.

Spiritually we pass through all the seasons before we leave this earth. The lost, found, growing, dying. All of us who know the Lord spend a different amount of time in each season. Some people only experience the seasons of lost and dying. For whatever reason some people are caught in winter, extolling its virtues, jeering at the Springtime. The book of Romans tells us that “man is without excuse” as far as God is concerned. He made all things beautiful in their time to illustrate His artistry, His creation, His promise of redemption. Plainly, He says, it’s all here so the most common of us can see all of it was no accident. The very sight of the things of this earth should cause the heart to marvel and wonder at Who and how this magnificent universe came to be.

The human condition can be so dark, so stained with sin. Some have seen such wickedness they insist there can be no God. They forget that God took that wickedness and placed it on the purest form of humanity to ever grace this earth and allowed it to kill Him, His very own Son, in order that those whose lives are filled with evil all around can turn to God’s sacrifice for their escape from the sin that surrounds and entangles them. Life is only worth living when we are clothed in that sacrificial offering.

If any of you have stopped by to read this post and are in the winter of your life, this Spring let the Son shine in. Yes, the rains will come and sometimes pour down seemingly without mercy, and occasionally the sun will scorch, and once again the autumn returns with its forecast of winter, but now, with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, it’s doable. He has what you need to travel through each season of your life, to get you through to the other side, the perfect place that awaits you when you know Him who gave His life for you.

So, let the Son shine in . . .

Father, you love those who have yet to meet you. The world lies to them about you, but you are greater than the one who speaks to them. I pray you would reach even more of the lost as this Easter time approaches. Let them hear with their ears the voice of love and redemption and truth. Draw ever more to let your Son shine in. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.