All Things New

April 1, 2023

“Jesus replied, ‘The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. ‘“John 12:23-24

God has an amazing way of renewing the earth. Death and resurrection happens in the plant world continuously. A tree grows for many years, producing fruit or nuts that fall to the ground and produce new trees. The old tree eventually dies and disintegrates, becoming nutrient-rich soil for the growth of younger trees.

Animals, too, follow a cycle of life. One generation produces the next, which produces the next, and so on.

Death is hard for humans. Even though we know future generations build on what we’ve done, we want everyone to live on this earth forever. Health and vitality eventually wane, and death comes soon or not so soon, but none of us will get out of here alive, unless the Lord returns and takes his people to heaven.

Change is hard for us. Civilizations lose their health and vitality, just as plants and people do. Seasons of life have their peaks and declines. We want to hold onto what we have, hoarding all the happiness we found in it. We must let go. Though our love will always remain, we need to have faith that there is good in the future.

Relationships shift. In every end there is a beginning. Step forward in faith. The sun will shine again.

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25