More than a month has passed since the first day of spring. It is looking promising around here now for temperatures to really warm up and trees and lawns to turn green. I like the way abundant new life springs forth this time of year. Plant life with green grass, plentiful leaves, and colorful wild flowers show up in the warmer weather.
The winter has been mild so the snow was a surprise this month. It shouldn’t be though since we live in the great North. It snowed in May one year, hopefully not this year.
The return of birds of all sizes as well as fish in great numbers makes for life being abundant. And that is just in our part of the world. Think of the rest of the world and the variety of plant and animal species that exist. A Google search shows there are close to 400,000 species of plant life on earth. Animal species number in the millions. Life of all forms is definitely abundant in most parts of the world.
Human life is precious. My friend Cliff waited for almost a year for a lung transplant. He is recovering well after his double lung transplant a few weeks ago. He doesn’t require oxygen supplement now and can breathe normally. A few more months of therapy and he will be returning home. God still answers prayer.
Jesus Christ stated a strong contrast of purpose for him and the “thief.” He came to give life and that more abundantly. The thief comes to steal, kill, and to destroy.
Jesus encountered death many times in his ministry. At least three instances in the Gospels give details of how he brought life back to the dead.
The death of Jesus on the cross seemed so final to his disciples. He foretold his death and resurrection several times but in the trauma of that terrible time they forgot his words. When they heard he was alive they rejoiced and yet doubted. Those mixed emotions were soon settled after he appeared to them saying, “Peace be unto you.”
Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples following his resurrection. The gospel writer Luke wanted others to “know the certainty of those things.” He wrote of “many infallible proofs” of Jesus being alive. Paul stated that over 500 saw Jesus after he arose. They had abundant evidence Jesus was not dead. His cross and tomb are empty but he can fill us with his Spirit.
Jesus used water, an essential to life, as a type of his Spirit. He told a woman at the well in Samaria about the “well of water springing up into everlasting life.” He interrupted a religious ceremony in Jerusalem to proclaim “rivers of living water” for those who will believe the Scriptures. The old prophets wrote about the early and latter rain. Joel recorded the promise of God, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.” These references to the Spirit as water underscore its life-giving aspects.
The power of the “living water” outpouring of the Spirit is told in the Book of Acts, chapter two. Spiritual life in the church continued as a story that has not yet ended. You can experience the abundant life the Lord Jesus has for you.
Mitch Glover is pastor of Sterling Pentecostal Church. Sunday services include Bible classes for all ages at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Bible study is Thursday at 7 p.m. Visit the services and sterlingpentecostalchurch.com.
