Spring

Here’s what I love: Spring is coming.

After months of gray skies, freezing rain, cold winds, brown grass, and naked trees, I am so relieved to see the signs of spring.

Just last week the temps warmed up unexpectedly. Everyone got all excited and ran around in short sleeves and opened their windows. However, one warm day does not mean that the real season of spring has arrived. The very next day, the winds blew in freezing rain. The temperature dropped to the 30s and gray skies and fog surrounded the city. As it turned out, we had only gotten a little taste of spring. A little glimmer of what we know will come.

While it’s no fun to be plunged back into winter when we’ve just tasted the warmth of spring, we at least have the knowledge that Spring will come.

We’ve felt the warm breeze, we squinted in the sunshine, we saw a few sprigs of bright green grass, we heard the birds singing. Even though it’s gray and cold again today, we know that when Spring officially arrives, we will see flowers splashing color all around, the skies will go from gray to blue, the naked, brown tree branches will begin to be dressed in green again.

This is a little like the tastes of heaven we get here on earth. Psalm 34:8 says “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Consider some of the good God sprinkles into our wintery lives.

The pure joy in a child’s smile, encouraging words from dear friends, the truth of scripture penetrating our souls—these are all tastes of God’s Kingdom. You know that feeling when you are talking and laughing with a group of dear friends and you feel the bonds of unity? Have you experienced that feeling of deep true love for your spouse or child—like you would love them no matter what? Or even better, have you extended help to someone in need? Have you experienced the deep sigh of relief when you forgive someone who has hurt you? Have you ever given up worrying over something and truly trusted God to provide? Have you ever been completely surrounded with unexplainable peace in the midst of a horrible situation?

These are all ways we, as Christians experience His Kingdom life. These are tastes of what is to become permanent when we meet Him in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

When we see Him as He is (1 John 3:2), all of His goodness and love will wash over us. The experiences we’ve had of joy, encouragement, truth, purity, unity, love, trust, help, forgiveness, and peace are examples of living in the light of His Kingdom NOW. When Christ returns, we get to experience these Kingdom truths in new bodies for all of eternity.

Now, we taste His goodness and we eagerly await what we know will come.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.