Greatest blessing of spring

Central Church of Christ

Posted

Homemade snow cream doesn’t beat it.  Sledding down a hill on Bon Air Mountain can’t top it.  Even as much as I love making snow forts and having bruising snowball wars, I still like spring better. Spring seems to have finally sprung.  Regularly, people are getting outside to wash their wearied cars.  People have gotten the mowers sharpened and are already manicuring the rapidly rising weeds that break through the grass.  Those 60 to 70-degree afternoons have returned with some highly-anticipated regularity.  Even though the first day of spring isn’t till Saturday, March 20th, spring has sprung and I love it.

What do you like so much about the spring?  Could it be the deep life affirming green of the grass?  Is it the daffodils and cherry trees blooming in full force?  Could it be the myriad of rabbits and squirrels hopping and playing through our yards already?  I think the best part of spring is the following word.

“RISEN”

For me spring is all about the risen.  The foliage has risen rubbing the sleep from its long dormant eyes.  The animals have risen from their dark nests, holes, and burrows.  Neighbors have risen from the isolating fog of long depressive winter moods (especially with the pandemic) to greet their community once again.  The sun even seems to be rising with renewed strength, vigor, and warmth every single day. Yet, the word Risen has a deeper connection with better moods than just the nature around us.

Risen connects us with Christ and the hope that lies with Him. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. – Matthew 28:5-6a

With the growth of grass, the sparrow singing, and the rabbit romping, I am oft reminded of the rising that trumps all risings.  Spring reminds me of our risen Lord and Savior.   No other event has so changed the destiny of creation.  No other act has so baffled the minds of men.  It is the risen Christ that is arguably the most controversial and wonderful historical event of the last two millenniums.

Paul writes about how this glorious rising of our Savior changes us, gives us fresh perspective, and a new beginning. “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

In this one single event of the rising of our Savior, you and I were given life; life that is new, abundant, and fulfilling. No longer do we have to live in the darkness of days of regret, sadness, and depression. Our viewpoint on the world, our community, and ourselves is fresh and new all because of that word, “Risen.” 

I am grateful for the spring, and the reminder of the Christ that the rising brings.  Remember, the rising doesn’t stop just with Christ.  It is now our turn to rise and spring into newness of life.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1

Now, the glory of the Lord has risen upon you, how can you now arise and shine for Him?    

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here