The Difference the Son Makes

Over a week ago, it started to snow.  I woke up last Monday morning to a beautiful winter wonderland.  Then it changed to ice and ended up keeping us confined to the house for a week.  Our house is situated on a hill, complete with a steep driveway.  Not to mention we have lots of tall trees surrounding our house and neighborhood.  Over a week later, we still have snow in our front yard and on parts of our driveway.   This afternoon I really thought it odd as we were driving down our street and most of the snow was gone until you rounded the corner and got the first glimpse of the cul-de-sac.  You see our house and the house on either side of us with pretty much a yard full of snow still.  It seemed so out of place.  I looked out my back window yesterday and could see the same ole' drab look of the brown pine needles covering the ground.  I look out the front and it looks like the winter wonderland.   So, what is the difference?  It's not like we have a snow machine on the front yard or heaters going in the back.  The difference is the sun.  Our house faces North, so the backyard receives the most sun. Of course, that isn't all that much sun since there are lots of trees.  Well, the backyard got the sun, but the front did not. Then the rain came.  Wow, the rain and warmer temperatures helped melt even more of the snow. 

I started to contemplate how the Son makes a difference in our lives.  That would be the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  When He shines in our lives, he reveals what is really there.  I don't like to see what is under all that beautiful snow.  I don't like to see the selfishness, the pride, the sinfulness of my life that is revealed when the Son shines in my heart.  But it is when that snow melts away, the beauty of Spring- the flowers, the green grass, the trees- comes forth.  God wants that facade gone and the true beauty to shine forth.  That true beauty cannot shine through when the ugliness of sin is covering. 

I don't know how or if this will speak to anyone, but it has been on my heart.  I wanted to share it.  Pray that God will shine on the areas of our lives that need to be cleared away.  Pray that through the tears that may need to be shed (like the rain), our lives will be ready for Him to do a great and mighty work in and through.  I want the fruit of the Spirit to be evident in all we do. 

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

 Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. 

Galatians 5:22-24 (The Message)