This is the time of year that every gardener hates. All those beautiful flowers you enjoyed all summer are now drooping, discoloured, or dead. All of them have to be cut back or pulled out and sent to the landfill. Soon the snow will fly and cover up any trace of life. But the marvel of it is that after half a year of being buried, they’ll shoot right up again in the spring when there’s a hint of warmth. A few of them will even push right up through the last of the snow, anxious to grow.

This is God’s way with life. There are times when things seem very dark in our lives. We feel weighed down with troubles, poor health and hopelessness. For some people, all the things they once enjoyed are behind them and the future seems uncertain. But God has a way of reaching down and pulling us up again. Gloomy things become easier to handle. Suddenly weighty matters aren’t so bad. Faith in the God of life and light makes all the difference.

The apostle Paul explained he was “always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal bodies.” (2 Cor.4:10-11). Life was hard for him, but he carried an optimistic, positive attitude based on his faith. This is God giving us life when darkness seems to surround us. “Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (verse 16)

And when this life is over, Jesus promises His people that He will raise them to something far better, and present us to God. “Knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you” (verse 14).

Plants and flowers will greet us in the spring. Do you understand?

– Tim Johnson

When we hear a title like that, we usually think of heaven, our ultimate place of reward. But there’s another place God has prepared for His people: the place of safety. John mentions it in Revelation 12:6, “And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she might be nourished for 1260 days.”

In Revelation’s way of presenting realities in figures, the woman represents the people of God, members of His church. Threatened by the devil, she flees to the place of safety and nourishment that God has provided – although temporarily, because her troubles will only be temporary. God is always watching out for His people, caring for them, protecting them, and sustaining them. This is not a literal place we can speed off to in our cars when we need it; it’s a spiritual place we can access anytime we are threatened or hassled. It is the loving care of God.

 We are living in dangerous times. Threats are thrown at us from foreign powers and homegrown terrorism bubbles up regularly. While distant governments rattle the economy, our own North American governments also upset people. The business world is worried because the stock market is once again having a merry plunge. And immorality seems to dominate the moral climate of our society. And the devil loves it all.

We don’t have to wring our hands in anxiety and fear. There have been worse times in the past and Christians have cruised right through them, although not without concern for others.

We must remember that the woman of Revelation 12 had a secure place to go where she was safe and cared for. We have that too. God’s caring hands are always present. Just as God reassured the Israelites, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever for sake you” (Quoted in Hebrews 13:5), so it is for us.

God has a place prepared for you today; have you been there?

– Tim Johnson

The world loves winners and champions. It’s that time of year when baseball championships are played out, followed by football, and then other sports in the spring. Players want their big rings, noisy parades and inflated reputations.

Even in the world of politics we hope for great leaders. Canada needs strong people right now who will champion our identity, economy and well-being. When weak leaders fail to stand up for us, they end up in the dustbin of history. Champions are long remembered.

The New Testament book of Hebrews presents Jesus as “the author of our salvation” (2:10). It’s a peculiar Greek word that means “leader” or “forerunner” (6:20). He’s described as the only one who can lead us to victory. In that sense He is our champion. He leads us to great spiritual triumphs, and ultimately into heaven.

In the book of Revelation, John gives us a description of the first vision of the book. Jesus is pictured as an exalted priest, pure, all-knowing, and powerful (1:12-20). He is glorious and the winner of a great victory – He beat death by rising again. In his hand he held seven stars which are protective angels who watch out for each congregation of His church. Here is our champion. He will protect, lead and help us for the rest of our lives. While John was told to write down the rest of the visions of the book, the story has already been told in the first chapter – Jesus will lead His people through whatever the world throws at us.

What battles will you fight this week? What temptations must you defeat? What courage will be required of you? Fall in line behind our champion and He will help you win victories.

– Tim Johnson