Ah, the warmer weather of March and as they say, “Spring is just around the corner”. We are looking forward (with great anticipation) to the new growth on trees, to spring flowers straining to pull in all the warmth of the sun, to spring peepers, to evening walks and bicycle rides. There is just something special about being able to get outside once more without the burden of a heavy winter coat and to smell the fragrance of an awakening earth. We watch the water running down the road, from dark stained snow, that has overstayed its welcome. The spring rains come and wash away the filth and grime that has been accumulating on everything since late last year. In short, we look to a new rebirth.

Nature is not the only rebirth we have to look forward to. As humans we are just as grimy and fifthly as that snow that has been around for a time. As Isaiah 64:6 reads, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Humans were created perfect by our Lord at the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had no evil in them. They loved God to the fullest and He loved them to the fullest. Their communion was perfect and no divide separated them. Every kind of food was available to them and all the water that flowed was clear and pure. The animals were co-inhabitants of earth and not a source of food. By today’s standards, a place of vast value and fortune.

Then Satan, in the form of a Serpent, entered and tempted Adam and Eve. In Genesis 2:16,17 it is written “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.” NKJV The serpent came and tempted Eve and then Adam into eating of the forbidden tree. Since that time, humans born into this world are already condemned to death and separation from God.

Now comes the rebirth. God sent Jesus into the world to show us how to live. He spent roughly 3 years instructing His disciples and thousands of others on how to live. He taught them and us the right attitude to have towards God, how to treat others, how to live a life pleasing to God and a host of others things. He taught them the most important part, of how to put their trust in Him (for there is none other) and believe that His upcoming shedding of blood would make them fit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven when they died. Jesus was the only one who was perfect and it took a perfect sacrifice to shed His blood on the cross to make a way to Heaven for all that would believe. Nothing else would cover our sin. When God looks at the newborn human (Christian) He no longer sees our sin that would bar us from Heaven. Instead He sees the blood of a perfect sacrifice that covers all our sin.

With the new rebirth comes responsibilities. The Bible gives us all the instruction we need. Its pages are full of correct ways to live and the incorrect ways to live. God knows we can never be perfect on this earth. He does however, expect us to give our all to follow His word and will for our daily life. The examples in the Bible are not just there for something to read, but are a blueprint on following His desire for us and how to live our daily life. Best of all He tells us that when we do fall short and sin, that He is there to hear our confession and forgive us. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and warn us when we are about to do something wrong. It is left up to us (free will) to choose to obey and keep the lines of communication open.

So as we celebrate the coming of Spring and new birth, I pray that we all will look inward to see if we are on the right path with the Lord. If there are ones who read this who have not put their salvation in Jesus I would urge you to do that, so you also will someday be able to enter the gates of Heaven with rejoicing.

We serve a great risen Savior that will be by our side no matter what may happen. May we all have a blessed Spring and grow in the Lord.

In Christian Love

Dale Heminger

Pastoral Shepherding Assistant