Spring Meditations

What is it about spring that is so wonderful? Obviously, the warmer temperatures and longer days of sunlight are most welcome.  More than that though is the new life popping up.  The grass is getting its green hue back, the tress are starting to bud, and those ugly, dead-looking bulbs you planted in the fall are turning into bright, lively spring flowers.  Shoveling snow, sub-zero wind chills and the brown landscapes of winter are not my favorite, but I am thankful to live in a climate that has four distinct seasons because it makes spring all the sweeter. After the barrenness of winter, spring’s promise of new life is very hopeful.

The new life of God’s creation around me is a reminder of God’s renewal in other ways as well. First, God has promised that He has made me new because my life is hidden in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us,

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

My old self is dead and in its place, God has made me a new creature. As part of progressive sanctification, growing into this newness is an ongoing, life-long process of dying to my flesh and living according to my new man. But I also get to rejoice now that Christ has made me new! I am no longer dead in my sins but I am new and alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1,5). Through Christ’s redemption, a spring-like renewing has come to my heart!

Second, the new life of spring reminds me of the new heaven and new earth God is preparing for His children to enjoy eternally.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.’ And He who sits on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Revelation 21:1-5

The temperatures, sunshine, colors, sounds and scents of each new spring are wonderful. I love hearing the return of singing birds, smelling the blooming hyacinths and lilacs, and seeing the bright cheeriness of daffodils. If each new spring carries with it such beauty, can you imagine the wondrous beauty of God’s brand new creation, the new heaven and the new earth?  The renewal of this earth every spring fades in comparison to God making everything new in the new Jerusalem.  Our pain will be past, our fellowship with God will be perfect and we will be living in a brand new place worshipping our worthy Savior.  May I long for this more passionately than I long for spring after a long winter.

Jennifer Cantu
Jennifer Cantu works as a counselor and Shift Supervisor at Vision of Hope. She received her biblical counseling certification from ACBC in 2014. In addition to working at VOH, Jennifer counsels women through Faith Church’s counseling ministry. She is very thankful for ministry opportunities to help, teach and encourage women with God's Word.