Ah….Spring is here. Longer days. Warmer weather. Melting snow. Falling rain. Out with the brown. In with the green. Time to clean. Time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. And, most importantly, time for new life. We have our first garden seedlings popping up in our house, even though it is only March. We had our first chick hatch last night, too. The calves are starting to appear next to their mommas in the fields, all wobbly and cute. We will see baby lambs, baby deer, and baby turkeys adding to the excitement and joy of new life as spring progresses slowly but surely.
Whether you personally have a hand in this new life or not, there is something special about it. For the rancher, the new life of a calf crop fulfills their purpose of raising livestock. For the farmer, the new life of crops in the fields gives hope of a harvest in the fall. For the hunter, the fawns and turkey chicks mean another promising season ahead. For the 4-H or FFA competitor, the new calves, lambs, piglets, chicks, and bunnies means a busy summer prepping for the show. And for the person just happening by on the highway or just stopping in to visit, new life all around … just feels good.
It is often like that in the church. There are times when a church, like winter, might start to get cold and old and needs something like spring to cheer everyone up. Even though the church is faithful to gather to worship the Almighty God, sometimes the beautiful hymns start sounding repetitive. Sometimes the impact of the preaching becomes a bit dull. Now we all have our natural instincts on how to bring that spring-like feeling into the church. The congregants want to turn up the thermostat. But while 80 degrees might warm hands, it will not warm hearts. The pastors are willing to add an hour to their preaching time. But the longer service will not make an old church feel any younger. New life is that spring-time asset needed in the church to give it that exciting, joyful feeling.
And where can we find that new life that makes church worthwhile? We find it in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Come looking for Jesus in church on Sunday and those old hymns that are full of scripture will sound new and pleasant. Come looking for Jesus in church on Sunday and the gospel message from the word of God will rejuvenate your soul. And then when you leave, bring Jesus home with you and witness what new life will do to your family. And don’t stop there. Take the good news of new life in Christ out to your neighbors and friends and into your conversations and discussions. Take your new life in Christ down the streets and up to the tops of buildings. Let the whole world know the wonderful news that makes life good. Jesus is the source of new life, not just for a season, but forever.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17