As I look out my window today I see snow and lots of it. There are mountains of snow piled up across town, my driveway is full of ice and snow, there are large piles of snow in the parking lots of businesses. There is snow here, snow there, snow everywhere, and it is even snowing right now, plus its 12 degrees outside! When will Spring get here?  When will Breakup get here? According to the calendar, Spring begins this Saturday on March 20^th. Grace Christian School just got back from Spring Break. There is more light per day now and we just went through Daylight Savings. All the signs are pointing to the coming of Spring, but right now I can’t feel or see that Spring is coming or even close at hand, even though I know it’s gotta get here soon, all the signs are pointing to it, it is on the calendar, and it’s even been promised by God!

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22

For a lot of Christians, living on Planet Earth for the past ten years has felt like waiting for Spring. Even more so this past year. As we feel and see the power of Satan working in the world, the darkness, that cold shiver that runs down your spiritual spine as we see the total depravity of man being played out before our eyes, we often may wonder, “Where is the promise of his coming?” Is the Lord returning? Peter also addressed this question in his second letter to those believers who were struggling with their present circumstances. In second Peter chapter three, he encouraged those early believers to stay focused on the promise of Christ’s return. Who else better to indorse that promise than Peter? He was there when Christ said …

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3

Not only did Peter encourage them with the truth of Christ’s return, but he also challenged them that as they dealt with persecution and the pain and discouragement of life, they needed to be living their lives in such a way that showed they believed in the promise of his coming.

 ^“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,” II Peter 3:11

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” II Peter 3:14

It doesn’t look like Spring is close, but I know Spring is coming. I’m looking for it, I’m preparing for it, and I’m waiting for it! I know that when Spring comes, the snow and ice will be gone. The cold will be gone. The trees will bring forth leaves, the flowers will bloom and the air will be filled with warmth. Things will be new. As believers, we are waiting for that eternal Spring. When Christ shall come and make all things new.

 “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” II Peter 3:13

 Christian, even though it feels and looks like the Lord’s return is far from getting here, He is coming! It’s been promised by Jesus himself! So look for it, prepare for it, and live like it!

 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:25-28