Rebirth

     Several years ago, a good friend gave me a beautiful, blooming plant, with a cluster of delicate, pale pink blossoms and dark green leaves (a plant perhaps related to the African violet, though it came without a name). Family and friends alike have delighted in the beauty of the flowers over these years.
     Therefore, I was sorry to see, over the last few months, every single flower and leaf on this plant shrivel up and die. Nothing that I did seemed to help, whether it was moving the plant to more sun, less of a draft or increased watering. Finally, the plant was completely lifeless, a mass of brown brush on the bottom of the pot. I noticed what appeared to be a dead sprout protruding from that mass of dead leaves.
     Today, however, I saw that the sprout has been growing and the plant is coming to life once more!
     My father passed away on April 11 of this year. How shocking and terrible to see his lifeless body, after years of depending on his good judgment and moral strength as a father. He believed in Jesus (Yeshua) as his Savior and Lord and trusted in Jesus’ atonement for sin and in His Resurrection. Just as that plant appeared lifeless, but is coming to life, so my father is resurrected into eternal life with Jesus. So, this is a gift that is offered to us all—gift of eternal life is free to everyone who turns to God for forgiveness and salvation.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” John 11:25-26

     I look forward to seeing blossoms on this plant, even more beautiful than before.