My family celebrated Christmas as it freeze-rained all day!
When we went out later that afternoon, a ¼” layer of ice completely coated everything! The skylights of the house were completely coated in a thick layer of ice. The cars were completely covered and coated with a thick layer of ice. The snow-covered ground was completely covered with a thick layer of ice, which crackled underfoot, and cracked apart into ice chunks as you walked.
Here you can see a photo of our driveway … a sheet of ice.
And just off to the side of the road … tiny little buds on a branch … frozen in ice.
I was struck with the contrasting colors of green and red … so Christmassy! Little buds of next year’s new life! Hope! Encapsulated in ice.
The same thing is true when it comes to life. Life is hard. Life often feels like a never-ending “winter” of freezing temperatures. Oftentimes we feel like our hopes and dreams wind up encapsulated in ice.
But … because Jesus came, there is hope! Even in the middle of life’s harsh “winter” … Jesus offers hope of eternal new life!
This world is not all that there is. The hardships we face, this is not all that there is. There is hope for a better life … in Heaven! No pain. No sickness or disease. No sadness. No heartache or tears.
Jesus came to earth to provide a way for humanity to have access to heaven. (this is why we celebrate Christmas!)
Jesus has gone back to heaven, and is now currently preparing a place for us.
And just like Jesus came the first time to earth, Jesus is going to come back again … a second time to the earth … to take all who love Him to be with Him in Heaven forever! What hope!
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. … I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – John 14:1-3
“I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” – Revelation 21:3-4
We might feel trapped in the iciness of “winter” now … but there is hope! Hope of new life!
Hope … encapsulated in ice.
