A New Season

We have all seen it.
The houses that still have Christmas decorations three months later.
The houses that were caught off guard when a snowfall delayed their plans.
Too much snow kept them from taking down the lights or the wreath on the highest eave.

What looks wonderful and appropriate during the season looks tired and worn now.
It looks out of place.
I feel certain sadness when I notice the wreath is brown and the shiny red balls are dull.
Tis the season is now another season; the former has passed, the latter is now in focus.

It would be like a grown-up trying to fit in the garb of a child.
What works with one age group is inappropriate for another.
It just doesn’t fit.
No amount of force can make it so.

It is much like Cinderella’s slippers.
The fragile glass slipper was made for only one foot.
No amount of force could make that glass slipper fit another.
There is a time; there is a season.

I looked at the house as I passed by.
I remember how lovely it looked prior to Christmas and the weeks after.
I have no idea why the decorations are still on the house.
Perhaps there are unknown circumstances that prevented their removal.

I thought about how much the scene was analogous to our life.

We decorate ourselves, putting our best face forward.
We polish and shine and look our best to impress.
We care so much about the outside.
We care so much about appearances.

We look good for a while.
We are even appropriate for a time.
However, those outer trappings wear out their welcome very quickly.
What was shiny and new is now tired and worn.

We haven’t moved on.
The old decorations are still up.
The old adornments are out of place but we find them comfortable.
What was once an appropriate trimming is now a trapping.

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” He said. “But Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me. When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The dead man came out, his hands and feet were wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:38-44)

Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha.
Lazarus was sick and the sisters sent word to Jesus.
When Jesus got the news of Lazarus’ illness, He stayed where He was for two more days.
During that time, Lazarus died.

Mary and Martha wanted their brother to be healed.
Jesus had something better in mind.
Jesus had something about the Kingdom to reveal.
The answer to the sisters’ prayers was more than they could imagine.

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus was giving the people a glimpse of what would soon happen to Him.
Jesus was giving the people hope, since this would eventually happen to them.
It would happen to them if they believed.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give You whatever You ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:21-26)

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus gave Lazarus new life.
The sisters received more than they ever asked for or imagined.
God’s plan was far bigger than their prayers.

In order for Lazarus to go forth, the grave clothes had to be removed.
The tired, worn trappings of a former time.
They were appropriate for a season.
They were inappropriate for the new life Lazarus was given.

Former things must be removed to make way for the new.
Worldly trappings must be disposed of so that the new can be put in place.
We emerge, wrapped in grave clothes.
Clothes of the dead are never appropriate for people who are alive.

Take off the grave clothes.
Remove the trappings of the world to which you have grown so accustomed.
They are tired and worn, inappropriate and dull.
It is a new season; it is a new life.

Do you believe this?

2 responses to “A New Season”

1. Wonderful words, Gina. It makes me think of how we go on and on in this world, in our old clothes (sin, bad habits) too comfortable to make the needed changes (new clothes) that would make our life so much better. It IS hard to change, but God will help us if we but ask Him.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     It is hard to remove the old to make room for the new.
     The new is so much better.
     Removing the old is an act of faith.
     Gina

     Reply