As I stood on my front porch and surveyed the hillside in front of me as night fell, I couldn't help but notice the snow and cold that had settled upon the trees and hills in front and below me. It was as if a cold and gnarled hand had gripped this countryside I loved with a despair of darkness. Yes, it was only snow. Yes, it was just a wintery nightfall. But it still pulled something in my soul with its greyness.
I never liked the winter or the cold. Warmth and light are my forte. I think if we were all honest, though we enjoy elements of these things, nighttime and wintertime represent something we repulse: Death. And yet it occurs to me that the entire world seems to be gripped by this force. Some call him the Reaper or the Devil, others call it fate or evil. But scripture calls it sin.
Everyone of us knows that in our soul of souls, in our heart of hearts, we crave something more then what this world offers us. And yet like mad men we continue to engage in acts of insanity try to derive joy from ashes, trying to gain warmth from a snow drift.
This is why no matter how much we drink, no matter what new food we eat, no matter how good we look, no matter how many people adore us, no matter what you score on your video game, no matter how much fun you have in a moment, no matter how many hours you clock in church or work, no matter how much you make, no matter who you date, no matter how much sex, pleasure, speed, heat, cold, or spirituality you try it is never enough. Trying to satisfy your desire with this world is like trying to quench a fire with a rain drop... its never enough.
Not only this but the World we live in is killing us... put your hand on your heart... that's one less beat you will ever have... and now there goes another... you are dying. You can deny it, or ignore it, but it is a reality. And those who accept it are still so in love with this World they sink into a state of depression... I know I've been there.
Winter has fallen, from the moment Eve ate the fruit onward down the hallway of time winter continued to wage its deadly force against us.
"But..." says the optimist "spring is dawning" to which I reply with a scream "YES. Yes it is" but since this World is gripped by winter, springs advent must come from without. Enter Jesus. A man. The God. The servant. The King. Christ. The Messiah. Jesus walked the earth, and lived a perfect life as an example for us and yet this wintery domain put Him on the cross and killed Him. We killed our redeemer.
But as He lay in the grave winters worst act offered spring it greatest opportunity. Jesus rose from the dead! Think of it! Men and women have died for centuries, none return to tell of it. And yet Christ rose from the grave. You may be reading this with a skeptics eye but hear me out: Examine this one claim I plead with you, if it is true, if Jesus rose from the dead, then winter has not fallen but spring has dawned.
As Isaiah chapter 9:2-7 reads
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."
I never liked the winter or the cold. Warmth and light are my forte. I think if we were all honest, though we enjoy elements of these things, nighttime and wintertime represent something we repulse: Death. And yet it occurs to me that the entire world seems to be gripped by this force. Some call him the Reaper or the Devil, others call it fate or evil. But scripture calls it sin.
Everyone of us knows that in our soul of souls, in our heart of hearts, we crave something more then what this world offers us. And yet like mad men we continue to engage in acts of insanity try to derive joy from ashes, trying to gain warmth from a snow drift.
This is why no matter how much we drink, no matter what new food we eat, no matter how good we look, no matter how many people adore us, no matter what you score on your video game, no matter how much fun you have in a moment, no matter how many hours you clock in church or work, no matter how much you make, no matter who you date, no matter how much sex, pleasure, speed, heat, cold, or spirituality you try it is never enough. Trying to satisfy your desire with this world is like trying to quench a fire with a rain drop... its never enough.
Not only this but the World we live in is killing us... put your hand on your heart... that's one less beat you will ever have... and now there goes another... you are dying. You can deny it, or ignore it, but it is a reality. And those who accept it are still so in love with this World they sink into a state of depression... I know I've been there.
Winter has fallen, from the moment Eve ate the fruit onward down the hallway of time winter continued to wage its deadly force against us.
"But..." says the optimist "spring is dawning" to which I reply with a scream "YES. Yes it is" but since this World is gripped by winter, springs advent must come from without. Enter Jesus. A man. The God. The servant. The King. Christ. The Messiah. Jesus walked the earth, and lived a perfect life as an example for us and yet this wintery domain put Him on the cross and killed Him. We killed our redeemer.
But as He lay in the grave winters worst act offered spring it greatest opportunity. Jesus rose from the dead! Think of it! Men and women have died for centuries, none return to tell of it. And yet Christ rose from the grave. You may be reading this with a skeptics eye but hear me out: Examine this one claim I plead with you, if it is true, if Jesus rose from the dead, then winter has not fallen but spring has dawned.
As Isaiah chapter 9:2-7 reads
"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."