A devotional thought presented originally to Swift Current Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Thursday 06 November 2014
Read Luke 21:29-31
I grew up in Victoria. Growing up, we had
snow maybe once every four years and it was gone in about a week. Every
February, when much of our great country is still covered in snow, Victoria has
its annual flower count. I recently found the statistics for 2002. In that year
Victoria counted 8,521,514,876 flowers on one day in February.
When I first moved to the Prairies we
lived in Winnipeg; I noticed that Februaries in Winnipeg are a little bit
different than those in Victoria. Instead of + 8 billion flowers, in Winnipeg
it felt like - 8 billion degrees.
I do love the Prairies. Winter is great
too but you know what? If the end of May rolls around and there is still snow
on the ground, I am ready for it to be over.
By the time the snow starts to melt, by
the time the trees start to sprout and we can see for ourselves that summer is
near, I am quite happy.
This is the same idea that our text today
is talking about. We all know that in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, instead
of watching squirrels and counting blossoms, decide to listen to snakes and eat
forbidden fruit. The Biblical record shows us that this sin, like winter,
continues through the generations: through the whole Pentateuch; through the
whole Law and the whole time of the prophets; through the judges and the kings;
through the kingdoms, the exiles and the occupations; the winter of their sin
continues. In our world today we still see a lot of problems. We still see a
lot of snow.
We are still in the winter of our sin but
summer is coming; Jesus is coming back. The metaphorical snow of sin is still
on the ground but Jesus assures us, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.
When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is
near” (Luke 21: 29-31).
There is good news if we look around.
Jesus himself was the first blossom. He is the branch of Jesse (Zechariah
6:11-13; Isaiah 11:1); he is the first blossom. He tells us again and again
that the Kingdom of God is at hand. It is here, he says. It is in his presence.
When we are in Jesus’ presence we see the buds of our future salvation coming
through on the trees of our lives now.
When we share the Good News of God’s love
we are a part of those blossoms of the Spring of Christ’s love. As the first
bud of Spring sprouted with Jesus coming to live among us all those years ago,
we know that Jesus is coming back and he’s coming soon. When he does then all
the trees will be in full bloom covered in the blossoms of salvation and when
he comes what a day of rejoicing that will be. This is something for us all to
look forward to.
When have you shared the good news of the
coming eternal Summer of Salvation?
www.sheepspeak.com
[1] Based on the sermon by Captain Michael Ramsay, Luke 21:29-31:
the First Sprigs of Spring. Presented to St. Stephen the Martyr Anglican
Church, Swift Current, Nov. 29, 2009 and Salvation Army Swift Current, December
02, 2012. On-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2009/11/luke-2129-31-first-sprigs-of-spring.html
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