Spring…

For a few short days in the spring, our little piece of the earth is alive with color and beauty. The colors are vibrant, the grass is lush, and the fragrance that fills the air is sweet. But it never last long…

Each and every year this is the pattern…

For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth: The time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. – Song of Solomon 2:11-12

It’s short, just like life…

We know the truth of this, yet in our lives we don’t always see it, because we are often caught up in the mundane aspects of life.

As I considered my yard the other day, I wanted to take some pictures to remember it, the grass looks as close to perfect as I can get it, but there are things you can’t see. And there are things there that I can’t see.

Lurking under the ground were moles (I think they are now gone), and popping up are dandelions and weeds. These are representative of sin. All believer’s have sin (1 John 1:8), but it’s also true that all believer’s have the Holy Spirit of God and have the ability to conquer sin (Romans 6).

Our lives are like our yards and if we don’t constantly attend to them, like a gardener protects his garden, then the ugliness begins to take over. The dandelions spread and in one or two seasons your yard is full of them.

So for the believer, to flourish, he must attend to and have attended to his yard, by the word of God (Hebrews 4:12), fellowship with the saints (Acts 2:42), and exhortation through the preaching of God’s Word (1 Timothy 4:13). God has given us certain privileges and gifts (1 Timothy 4:14). He has provided Pastor’s and teacher’s (Ephesians 4:11-12 that watch out for the flock (Acts 20:28) and teach the truth of Scripture (2 Timothy 1:13). He has provided the love and fellowship of other saints and He has told us to not forsake gathering together (Hebrews 10:25).

Lazy gardeners will allow their responsibility to relax, and they will skip every once in a while, because it’s just more convenient. We also have the pragmatist who will attend Saturday evening so they can go to their kids sporting events, rather than gather on the one day a week God has ordained (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). In fact we call it the Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10), doesn’t that tell us something?

The Christian life is one of commitment and responsibility, but it is filled with tremendous joy. It is not for those that desire ease and comfort.

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. – Proverbs 24:30-34

If you’ve become lazy in your responsibilities as a Christian and yes I mean you have responsibilities. Then repent and turn from your sin, or better yet, examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5) to see if you are truly in the faith. There are no short cuts in Christianity. It’s a narrow and difficult path that leads to life, not a smooth easy highway (Matthew 7:13-14).

Kevin