Giving New Life

As we enter into May, I can’t help but think about all the plant life that was gray, dry, and dormant only a few weeks ago and is now coming back to life. I realize that it was never truly dead; but, seeing the regeneration of the vegetation inspires me in the springtime of the year. The grass begins to regain a deeper green color, along with flowers emerging in beautiful, vibrant colors of red, purple, orange, blue, and yellow. Even some of the weeds appear in dazzling displays as life bursts forward with the arrival of warmer weather and longer days.
This reminds me of the human spirit as the souls of some people go through hard and deficient times of life. Many people seemingly go through times when their spiritual lives become inactive, dysfunctional, and unresponsive. There are times in their lives that seem cold, dormant, and lifeless to them. There could be many reasons that people could experience this type of season in their lives. People experience loss and find it difficult to engage cheerfully.
Another reason is that people experience disappointing times in life. Maybe it stems from broken relationships, or uncontrollable circumstances at work. Still, other contributing aspects may come from health factors in life. There are so many things that can make a person withdraw and lose their vibrancy in life; yet, the most prevalent cause of spiritual lifelessness is the work of sin in the lives of people. Job 15:30-32 speaks of those whose lives are held by the grip of sin.
30 He will not depart from darkness; the flame will dry out his branches, and by the breath of His mouth he will go away. 31 Let him not trust in futile things, deceiving himself, for futility will be his reward. 32 It will be accomplished before his time, and his branch will not be green.
How appropriate that the word says that “his branch will not be green”. Like a dormant plant or a dying flower, sin draws the spiritual life out of our souls and leaves us dry, barren, and dreary as we are separated from life in Christ.
The good news is that just as the spring season brings life to all that lay dormant and lifeless, the Lord can regenerate and restore people to life in like manner. In Titus 3:4-7, the Bible tells us of this very work that occurs through Christ and the Holy Spirit. It says;
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)
When we give and devote our lives to the Lord, he can regenerate and revitalize our spiritual nature and rejuvenate our souls allowing us to experience abundant life. In John 10:10, Jesus says;
10 … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (b)
What was once lifeless is now vibrant. What was once drab is now lively. What was once latent is now bursting with life. All of this takes place because it is what Christ does in the life of the believers. So as you enjoy the beauty of the spring season, remember that God has a plan to beautify our spirit and souls with his touch of abundant life.