Anticipation of New Life

On Sunday morning as well as yesterday we had snow, again. This morning, as I write the thermometer reads 21. "Will the winter every end", "I am so ready for spring" and "We have had enough winter" are all things I have heard recently and frequently, some from myself.

I wonder if many are as concerned with the coldness and "winter" conditions of their hearts? It seems that the heart can be cold or dry and people just go on without desiring the vitality and excitement of growth, change and newness of life that comes when our hearts are warmed by the Spirit and begin to burst into vibrant new color and song that come along with the new given life.

God, the Great Awakener, is the catalyst of change as we lye dormant in anticipation of being changed from dead to alive in Him and the change should be as obvious as flowers and birds in spring. Once we are made alive we should burst forth in growth and singing as we celebrate life with our Creator and Sustainer. All creation is celebrating His goodness and faithfulness. Let the rocks be silent now as we have our voice and with hallowed chorus raise His Name in celebratory praise. He is worthy and we are His chosen subjects.

If all of creation tells of His glory, Ps. 19, shouldn't we, who are His most treasured and unique creatures, created in His image, be the most ardent? Let us desire the "spring" of our hearts more than the spring of the year. Let us rejoice in His work of growth in our hearts more than the smell of fresh cut grass and the sound of birds singing. May our hearts be filled with anticipation as we wait on Him for the growth that we need and desire more than the anticipation of daffodils. He is more glorious than any spring day after the long cold winter is over. He is Life. He conquered death for us that we might never have "winter" again.

"Awake my soul and sing,
of Him who died for thee
and hail Him as thy matchless King
throughout eternity!"

He is our beloved and He calls to us, desiring that we come out of our winter "dens" and join Him as He melts our hearts with His passionate love for us. We should have greater anticipation than we had when we first were smitten with love for our earthly beloved when He calls us out of our cold, dark tombs and into His marvelous light.

I do realize that this text is normally used with the idea of husbands and wives, but our True Beloved is calling us out, to listen to His voice and look into His face. Someday He will call us Home and then we will sit at His throne in worship of Him forever, but until then we must worship Him here.

The Bride Adores Her Beloved
Song of Songs 2:10
My beloved speaks and says to me:
"Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away,
11 for behold, the winter is past;
the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove
is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree ripens its figs,
and the vines are in blossom;
they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away.
14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,
in the crannies of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice,
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.