Yesterday I left early in the morning and travelled to Scottsdale AZ. When I left my home at beautiful Honey Lake it was a cool 40 degrees, but when I arrived in Phoenix it was in the high 90’s. Florida was lush green; Arizona was desolate desert-brown.
I felt like an idiot carrying a jacket with me through the sweltering heat at the airport, and couldn’t wait to store it away in my room. As I walked around the Four Seasons hotel and adjacent grounds with the man whom I’d come to see, I ran into a buddy of mine from Florida and we stopped to chat.
We stood talking in the hot sun and suddenly my Arizona native friend pointed out one of the most beautiful flowers that I’ve seen (this side of Maui). It had a huge gorgeous bloom probably 10-12 inches across and smelled heavenly. Unbelievably it was sprouting out of a rather nasty looking prickly cactus.
My buddy explained that we were being treated to a rare sight, and we should take full advantage of viewing its glory, because it only blooms for one day and tomorrow it would be gone forever.
I woke up this morning thinking about that beautiful flower and as soon as first light appears, I’m going back to see what became of it. I wonder why God designed it in that fashion. I’m sure He had His reasons and they were perfect ones, but it seems strange to me and kind of sad in a way. I’d like to enjoy its beauty again today, but according to my friend, it is not to be and will never be enjoyed again except in a distant memory.
One thing it did for me is make me think about the beauty of God and marvel that it cannot be snuffed out of even the harshest environment. It is like a gorgeous flower that never fades!
God’s love is available to us throughout eternity, but we must take advantage of it while we can, because it is not proffered to us indefinitely. The Bible teaches that life is short, (which is backed up by actuaries).
The advantage that we have is that unlike that delicate beautiful flower, we can enjoy the beauty and love of God forever. The Bible assures us that His children will be with Him throughout eternity and His beauty will never die and never leave us.
But like that beautiful flower we are not guaranteed forever to choose to follow God and not the world. We must decide while the light is still shining brightly and go ahead and get things settled. When the darkness of death comes, and it will surely come to all who walk this planet, it will be too late for those who put off making that decision and the misery and thorns and thistles will be all that is left as they are eternally separated from our Lord and Savior. Selah . . .
Have a great weekend and go to Honey Lake Church and see Nancy Alcorn and her mystery singer friend. You will be blessed. If you cannot attend, then go to church somewhere and if you’ve never done so, make your decision for Christ while there is yet time.
Ezk. 33:11
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die,
April 11, 2014 – Click here to listen