Listen to the Flowers
Listen to the Flowers
Remember March? We groaned at the forecast of another snowstorm. Our neighborhoods were all ice and dirty snow. We were certain endless winter had come. Yet here I stand in lush green grass with blossoms nodding in the breeze. Spring came as it always does, resounding like a victory shout that winter has not triumphed and it never will!
Flowers, in particular seems to burst into bloom in defiance of winter, yet with grace and delicate beauty deliver a crushing gut-punch to winter. They dance, and wave their radiant blooms in victory as they whisper powerful truth.
From the demure violet to the bold and bright sunflower, each one sings in its own voice, “Life wins!”. Therefore, we always hope. For life has conquered death and everything melts into insignificance in the light of Jesus’ face. The Apostle of Grace says it this way:
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where O death, is your victory?” “Where, O death, is your sting?”…thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57
Flowers bloom because of storms. Yet even as they quake beneath the driving rain and shudder in the flashing lightening, they calmly state this truth: “Victory has a price tag.” The flower blooms because a seed died. Our victory over death is made possible by His sacrifice, as Isaiah the prophet declares:
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5
Dancing in radiant gowns, each blossom whispers: “Earth isn’t all there is!” As a drab seed was transformed into dazzling blossoms, so we too will be changed. As the seed exists to birth its likeness in a different form, the same is true of us. Here we are—earthbound, planted and dying a little each day, yet being transformed into His likeness. As we die daily to our selfishness and our own agendas, the life He intends is birthed within us. That transformation will be completed the moment we are with Him in Heaven. The truth remains: we were made for another world. This life isn’t all there is. What lies beyond is more real than anything we experience here.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4: 16-18
A blossom brushes you as you pass; perhaps it’s reminding you: “Life wins!”
The flower bent against the storm, could be whispering: “By His wounds we are healed.”
In bold splashes and delicately blushing pinks they softly say: “We were meant for another place!”
Listen to the flowers!