It’s winter. The wind is blowing, the roads are covered in ice, and the temperature hasn’t been above freezing in a month. Forecast: More snow, more wind, more cold for weeks. The days are dark; there many clouds, little sun, and many suffer from ice scraper’s elbow. Yet, despite how bleak the situation appears to be, hope is alive. Winter will make room for spring at some time – God said so!
Genesis 8:22 – “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”
God has created an amazing world for man. Not only is there beauty and recreation in God’s creation, but there is the provision of clothing, shelter, and food. Though God has provided all of the above, He provided the most important thing of all, His Son, for the salvation of mankind.
Unfortunately, some men struggle with the hope of Christ’s salvation. They close their eyes to the leadings of His creation:
Romans 1:18-21 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.
They close their ears to the pleadings of the Word:
Acts 7:57 – But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord;
For them, the world seems to be a dark winter of a place with no hope of spring. They see only eternal winter where man relies upon himself alone. The world gives pain, struggle, sadness, persecution, frustration, and when a man is down he cannot rejoice. He does not see the hope of the coming of the Son, because he doesn’t know God and His promises. Pray such a man will seek Christ. The Christian is encouraged to have hope of Christ’s coming:
I Peter 1:13 – Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
I Thessalonians 2:19 – For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
Hebrews 10:19-25 – Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having a great priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised: and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.
He knows the son will break through the clouds and will take him to a new season.