The War and an Ode to Spring

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
I am the resurrection, and the life: he who believes in Me, though he should die, yet shall he live.
Psalm 30:5 and John 11:25

    I was trying to get some information on the radio about the war in Iraq. The reception was bad and I kept hearing classical guitar music playing “Ode to Spring" in the background while the news correspondent reported on the progress of the war and recounted the number of casualties - guitars celebrating spring, and new beginnings, while lives were being extinguished in the horrors of war.
    Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars, and all this would be a prelude to the beginning of sorrows for a world that for the most part has rejected the Lordship of the Messiah.
    The guitars continued their incongruous serenade to spring’s resurrection with the sound of the bombs’ intrusive crescendos in the background. We can focus on the bombs, or we can tune our ears instead to the music of hope. We can celebrate in spite of the turmoil and the sorrow because the Giver of all life and music has given us His song. For those of us who have received the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and the hope of eternal life through Him, pain, anguish and horror are extinguished at the door of an empty tomb.
    Weeping may endure for a night, but we have a promise of joy every morning because of the hope of the finale - a glorious resurrection.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.
John 3:16 and Revelation 21:4

copyright 2008 by H.D. Shively | art copyright 2001 by J. Shively

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