“REED” This

Colors of Spring

The last several days have been absolutely beautiful! The sun has been shining brightly in the bright blue sky. A nice breeze has gently been blowing. The flowering bushes and trees are blooming vibrant and beautiful flowers. And the new growth of leaves on the trees gives us beautiful shades of light green to view all around us. It is all breath taking as the season of Spring has fully come. We see these colors because of the way the plants reflect the sunlight. The wavelengths of light that are not absorbed by the flower are reflected back to us giving us the colors we see: yellow, pink, red, fuchsia, purple, lavender, blue, etc. However the science works, God did it. Some years it seems that He really shows off His creation skills and wows us with full blooms and extra vibrant colors. It is overwhelming at times as we stop and truly look at His beautiful creation. Today, however, it is cloudy and rainy and a little dark. The Spring colors are all still around us, but not as vibrant with the sun not being seen. The clouds are blocking the sunrays from making those colors pop. There’s still light getting through, but not the full brightness as when the clouds are not around.

We live in a darkened world. The true Son Light is shining brightly, but the clouds of our sinful world have blocked His brilliance. God’s beautiful creation is still around us and is wonderful to see, but it has been tainted by the shadow of sin. We see people all around us, but all of us have been tainted by sin. This fallen world of sin darkens everything (Rom. 8:22). But God didn’t want us to stay in darkness, so He gave us His light. Jesus came and is that Light. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12) The darkness that tries to hide God and keep us from knowing Him and the Light, has been pierced through by Jesus. His coming, His perfect life, His death on the cross for our sins, and His glorious resurrection has pierced through the darkness to show us the way to God and give us life. He provides the way for us to escape the darkness and live forever in His Light. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

There may be clouds in the sky, but the sun is still shining. There may be clouds and darkness around us, but the Light is still shining. Just like when there is a break in the clouds and that beautiful beam of sunlight shines through, Jesus, the Light of the world, pierces through the darkness and gives us hope. We, His followers, His children, are to be reflecting that Light to everyone around us. Just like the beautiful colors of Spring, we need to be seen as beautiful witnesses for our Savior. There is joy in this dark world, and His name is Jesus. Let’s make sure people see Him.

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, March 30, 2021