Jon Allen

Spring is in the air. Do you know how I know? Well, there’s the smell of fields burning. There are glimpses of tractors working. There is snow on the ground, especially on the weekends, and yet there are beautiful sunny days in between those spring snows. 

If we put all these things together, we find ourselves revived with the newness that is spring. A time of year where we come out of the cold and shortened days of winter into a season of growth and green. We see flowers bloom and our lawns start to green up. There is a renewed fervor this time of year as we feel the warmth of the spring sun on our faces and are invigorated by longer days and warmer evenings. There is hope in the newness or maybe we think of it as the renewal of spring.

This past weekend we celebrated another renewal. We celebrated a renewed relationship made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus our savior. We celebrated Easter.

It was a renewal because mankind once had a perfect relationship with the creator of the universe and lord of all. Unfortunately, the darkness of sin took that perfect relationship away. We were in a winter season of separation. Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23 tells us that, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” From that very moment of brokenness, God had a plan to restore, or renew, our relationship with him reminding us of both his justice and his mercy.

Jesus came to us as the perfect, blameless sacrifice to pay once and for all time for the sin that separated us from him by taking our sins upon himself and being that perfect and complete sacrifice on the cross. Because of his atoning sacrifice on the cross and through his resurrection from the dead, we can not only be made right before him but made right before him for an eternity. 

And just like every action has a reaction, we must respond to this amazing sacrifice made for us. The gift is there. The gift of eternal life with God is the gift that has been extended to us. And just like every gift offered, there must be the reaction of acceptance. 

Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

You will be renewed. You will be made right. You will experience hope in our savior and lord. 

Will you accept this gift? Will you trust in the atoning sacrifice and hope giving resurrection to bring you spiritual renewal? This is what God wants for us. We must simply respond in acceptance of this free and life-giving sacrifice. Be renewed today.

(Jon Allen is the associate pastor of Grace Point in Powell.)