What Springtime Means for Christians

As of this post, it is the end of April. Springtime has already started, and in many ways, it's in full bloom outside here in Cincinnati, Ohio. Birds are coming out, grass is getting greener, and the obnoxious allergies from pollen have even returned to our sinuses. But while spring might be a slightly different experience for everyone, there's one word that summarizes the season no matter where you are: new. Springtime is when everything is made new, and everything returns to its glory and sunshine. It's what allows the summer to be such a joyful time. It's also why, I think, that a verse in this passage from Colossians jumped out at me:

"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints - the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel" (Colossians 1:3-5)

Zoom in on the phrase, "the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven." Paul is almost praying out loud, thanking the people of Colosse for their faith and love in Christ. But he makes sure to explain where it’s coming from, and that is the hope we have in heaven. Lots of words could be used here, but the word spring is such a beautiful expression of it, because he's talking about the process of the gospel coming into your life. It's a new, hopeful experience that you can't help but express to people. Because when you have hope in something, you share it and live it.

Springtime is a beautiful time because it mirrors this experience of newness and hope from God. Though this verse was written to a specific church, it is a great reflection to consider our own faith, love, and hope in Christ. That hope in heaven comes from knowing that God loved the world so much he humbled his own Son, sending him to earth to take our punishment. With that beautiful sacrifice, we are made new, and our response is to let the faith and love express themselves, springing up from the hope that is stored up in heaven for us.