Cold and dark winter in the far north can appear lifeless. Few birds sing. Conifers maintain their needles, but deciduous trees, bushes, and groundcover lose their leaves and enter dormancy. They look dead.
There is a groaning as winter drags on. People wait impatiently, eager, expectant for what lies ahead. The initial glories of spring elicit groans and frustration among the masses when it snows once more.
What an extreme contrast, the final arrival of spring in the Northland. The landscape explodes with life. Human senses are revitalized. The potpourri of aromas wafting on a warm breeze delights the mind. The song of the hermit thrush, white-throated sparrow and common loon awaken the ear which remained nearly quiescent in winter’s silence. Flowers and greenery are resurrected from the seemingly dead forest floor in a wild tapestry of color and diversity; only a creative God can conceive. Life abounds once again as the sun pours forth its light and warmth!
Fall signals the end of life for flowers. But on the other side of a long winter there will be rebirth, and flowers blooming in rich soil and warm sun like the one above. Photo courtesy of Michael Crotteau
The Bible reveals the true state of the human condition in relation to our Creator, the Sustainer of life. We are created in the image of God, yet we turn away from God. On that account, we are dead spiritually due to sin. “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). Though we are alive physically, we are dead spiritually. As “good-hearted” and Minnesota-nice we appear to be, the Bible says that every human heart apart from God is “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” Furthermore, the very sin that entered the world through the first man, Adam, subjected all life on Earth to pain, death, and decay.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans explains that all creation groans because of sin. However, there is an “eager expectation” of future glory. There is a “hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage of decay…” (Romans 8:20,21). The Great News is this: Jesus Christ, in His willing, vicarious, sacrificial death on the cross at Calvary, was the necessary accomplishment to free us and all of creation from the bondage of sin and death. He took our place. The eternal death due to us for our sins, Jesus took upon Himself! “He was delivered over to death for our sins,” it says at the end of Romans 4. But there is more: “. . . and He was raised to life for our justification.” Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior have been justified – made right before God – through His death and resurrection. Death lost its sting; it could not hold Him. The tomb is empty, and life abounds!
Coming to Christ springs forth new and everlasting life! The cold and darkness of our spiritual condition have given way to lasting beauty that will not perish with changing seasons. Pain and struggle for a believer continues in this life as we wait in eager expectation for the future glory of eternity with Christ. However, we suffer no longer for our condemnation, but for our holiness. And to this, be for the glory of God!
Spiritual Reflections is a weekly feature discussing faith in Cook County. This week our contributor is Michael Crotteau. His wife Traci, and two children, have lived in Grand Marais for 19 months. Michael, an outdoor enthusiast and hydrologist, loves to explore God through His Word, the Bible, and through the things that He has made. Michael is a member of Cornerstone Community Church in Grand Marais.
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