SPRING'S ETERNAL HOPE

SPRING’S ETERNAL HOPE
BY PAT GULLEY

Acts 14:17
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. (KJV)

Paul and Barnabas had just seen the miracle of a man who was impotent in his feet since the day he was born. He had never walked, but when he heard about God raising Jesus Christ from the dead, he received faith to be healed and at Paul’s command immediately leaped up and walked. The crowd was amazed at this great and mighty miracle and they thought that Paul and Barnabas were “gods” come down from heaven in the likeness of men. They called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius. The priest of Jupiter brought oxen and garland and tried to offer a sacrifice to them.

When Paul realized what was about to happen he shouted, “No, no, no. We are human beings just like you are. We are not special in any way except that we believe that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and we have received Him as our Lord.” Paul continued talking and telling them that the Creator of the Universe, the God all things living, had sent his Son Jesus to deliver humanity from their inherited life rooted in sin and death. He then said, “Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

Rain from heaven and fruitful seasons are part of God’s witness that he loves the human race. The seasons differ from one another but it is the SPRINGTIME that reveals to all nations life from the dead. It is SPRINGS ETERNAL HOPE that leads us to believe that the grave is not the final authority in a human being’s life.

The Apostle Paul later preached to the “enlightened” philosophers of Athens, Greece. (Acts 17:16-34) He addressed them on Mars Hill at their request. They were intrigued by this message of Jesus and His Resurrection from the dead. They did not have a clue as to what this “babbler” was talking about, but wanted to hear him with their own ears. They were very open-minded and were anxious to be informed of all things new.

Paul again used nature as his example of a living, loving God who cares about all human beings and who has sent his Son, to die for the sins of the world. Paul reminded those who were in attendance that their own poets had written of a Creator in whom all humanity lived, moved, and had their being. If the Creator of all Creation left his finger print in the elements of nature, it then makes sense that those whom He had created could see a shadow of His plan in SPRING’S ETERNAL HOPE OF RE-BIRTH AND RESURRECTION.

Paul then proclaimed the wonderful VICTORY OF LIFE OVER DEATH in the Resurrection of Jesus. This season of spring will again touch men and women all over the world and soften their hearts as rain softens the hardened earth after winter. And when they hear or read the story of Jesus dying on the Cross-to save them from their sin, and realize that Jesus went to Hell in their place, and was raised from the dead so that they could be born again; they will believe and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Then we will see the Eternal Hope of Spring turn into the Faith of Resurrected Lives that will bring forth fruit to the glory of God the Father.