As I write this, it is the 15th of March, a.k.a. (also known as) “The Ides of March”. Of course, this date was made famous in 44 B.C. when Julius Caesar met his tragic end at the famed “Theatrum Pompeii” in ancient Rome. It may well be said that this noteworthy day in history should best be remembered by the color of red. After all, according to the ancient historian Plutarch, Caesar was stabbed to death by conspirators no less than 23 times!
But now, some 2067 years later, and for me at least, this day will be remembered by the color green. Please allow me to explain...
In anticipation of the change of seasons, my wife and I spent the entire day yesterday prepping the grounds. She rode the riding mower and mowed off the wild onion sprouts that mar the lawn this time of year. I followed with the push mower, the trimmer, and then the driveway edger.
Next, we replenished our landscaping beds with colorful flowers and an abundance of pine straw (our ground cover of choice) and filled in bare spots in the yard with grass seed and straw before finally applying insecticides designed to deal with ants and other unwanted pests.
We did all of this yesterday in part because it is spring break week, and we have no obligations with regard to providing daily childcare for grandsons. But we specifically chose yesterday for these measures as the weatherman had predicted storms and rain over night.
The rain did come. A full inch fell overnight. As did the storms. Only these storms did not involve heavy winds as they so often do. Instead, they involved lightning – lots and lots of lightning. I awoke many times throughout the night to the flicker of lightning and the rumble of thunder. When I awoke this morning, I expected the usual – a yard full of debris and, as more than half of our property is full of trees, perhaps even one or two downed trees.
And yet, our property was detritus free. Hardly a leaf, let alone a limb or even a tree was visible on the ground anywhere. Instead, what awaited our eyes was an extensive panorama of green! Green, green, and more green. Everywhere the eyes beheld in the dawning light, the scenery was green!
It was then that my precious wife posed the obvious question: “Can you believe how green it is outside?” I had to admit that she was on to something. The transformation within a mere twenty-four hour period was astounding. We went to bed with a yard that was sort of a whitish yellow in color and woke up with one that was quickly going green!
All my life I had heard that lightning greened things up. Now, there was no denying it. So, as I am wont to do, I decided to investigate the matter. It turns out that lightning does indeed green things up!
To cut to the chase, according to www.gardenmyths.com, the story goes something like this... “The air contains 78% nitrogen and during lightning some of this is converted to nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in rain drops, and falls on your lawn. This extra nitrogen works just like a fertilizer; grass absorbs it and becomes greener. Others say that the darker green color is created from wet grass sparkling in the sun. It’s all just an optical illusion.”
Whatever the explanation, as a result of multiple lighting storms overnight here in east Tennessee, our grass and whatever trees were in bloom on our property were all clearly “goin’ green” this morning!
As I have pondered this throughout the day, I have been reminded of a spiritual principle. Many a time in the pages of Scripture, we see that light from above has a definitive impact on life here below!
Many examples could be cited here. While out in the wilderness (as recorded in the Old Testament Book of Exodus, chapter 3), Moses witnessed a bush burning without being consumed. It turned out that the One True God from above was the source. That same One True God went on to enlighten him with truth heretofore unknown.
A few hundred years later, the Prophet Elijah, atop Mount Carmel (as recorded in the Old Testament Book of I Kings, chapter 18), called upon this same One True God to send fire from Heaven. This He did in spectacular fashion!
In the famed 119th Psalm (verse 105), no less an individual than King David also testified to light from above that was a lamp unto this his feet.
Later on, of course, as the New Testament Gospel of Matthew records, three wise men were guided to the Christ Child in Bethlehem by a light from above. Still later, at Pentecost, as recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts, chapter 2, the guiding light of the Holy Spirit descends from above to, and upon, the followers of Christ.
Yet again, in Acts chapter 9, light from above is what intervenes in the life of the Apostle Paul and brings about his radical, life-transforming conversion.
You may well be asking what should we make of all of this? In response, I would make the following observations...
Spiritually, as the New Testament unfolds, the vast majority of the world (being Gentile) was then dead. The remainder (being Jewish) was, at best, then dormant. But when the One True Light from above exploded upon this world in the Person of God's One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, the possibility of a tremendous transformation for both parties immediately unfolded here on earth.
The New Testament Gospel of John (in chapter 1, verses 9-13) puts it this way…
The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
In the natural world, of course, plants do not really have any choice but to embrace the life-giving light from above. As they do, they flourish. And yet, in the spiritual world, things are a bit different. In this world, we here on earth clearly have a choice. We can choose either to embrace or not to embrace the Light from above.
If we choose to embrace the Light from above, we will flourish spiritually. But if we chose not to embrace this Light, then we will invariably suffer the consequences. If nothing else, the events of the last 24 hours have underscored this great truth for me.
I am thankful that the One True “Light of the World” intruded Himself upon me. Recognizing this, I have now been quickened to life! I can only hope that you, my friend, have had a similar recognition.
Back in the day, Michael Johnson had a top ten hit with the song titled “Bluer Than Blue”. In it, he bemoaned the station of one who was bluer than blue and sadder than sad because of a long lost love.
While I have personally experienced more than my share of long, lost loves along the way, I am thankful today that I am not bluer than blue, but rather greener then green! Missing a long lost love is one thing. Missing one’s only shot at Heaven is an altogether different matter!
What about you? Are you bluer than blue today as a result of
missed opportunity after missed opportunity? Then why not become greener than green! Why not change colors and go green today?!
“But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God!” Don’t take that lightly!
SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Julius_Caesar;
https://www.omnicalculator.com/everyday-life/bc-to-ad;
https://www.gardenmyths.com/lightning-grass-greener/.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/niv/exodus/3.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/1_kings/18.htm;
https://biblehub.com/psalms/119-105.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/2.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/acts/9.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/john/1.htm.
SEE ALSO:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluer_Than_Blue;
https://genius.com/Michael-johnson-bluer-than-blue-lyrics.
But now, some 2067 years later, and for me at least, this day will be remembered by the color green. Please allow me to explain...
In anticipation of the change of seasons, my wife and I spent the entire day yesterday prepping the grounds. She rode the riding mower and mowed off the wild onion sprouts that mar the lawn this time of year. I followed with the push mower, the trimmer, and then the driveway edger.
Next, we replenished our landscaping beds with colorful flowers and an abundance of pine straw (our ground cover of choice) and filled in bare spots in the yard with grass seed and straw before finally applying insecticides designed to deal with ants and other unwanted pests.
We did all of this yesterday in part because it is spring break week, and we have no obligations with regard to providing daily childcare for grandsons. But we specifically chose yesterday for these measures as the weatherman had predicted storms and rain over night.
The rain did come. A full inch fell overnight. As did the storms. Only these storms did not involve heavy winds as they so often do. Instead, they involved lightning – lots and lots of lightning. I awoke many times throughout the night to the flicker of lightning and the rumble of thunder. When I awoke this morning, I expected the usual – a yard full of debris and, as more than half of our property is full of trees, perhaps even one or two downed trees.
And yet, our property was detritus free. Hardly a leaf, let alone a limb or even a tree was visible on the ground anywhere. Instead, what awaited our eyes was an extensive panorama of green! Green, green, and more green. Everywhere the eyes beheld in the dawning light, the scenery was green!
It was then that my precious wife posed the obvious question: “Can you believe how green it is outside?” I had to admit that she was on to something. The transformation within a mere twenty-four hour period was astounding. We went to bed with a yard that was sort of a whitish yellow in color and woke up with one that was quickly going green!
All my life I had heard that lightning greened things up. Now, there was no denying it. So, as I am wont to do, I decided to investigate the matter. It turns out that lightning does indeed green things up!
To cut to the chase, according to www.gardenmyths.com, the story goes something like this... “The air contains 78% nitrogen and during lightning some of this is converted to nitrogen dioxide, which dissolves in rain drops, and falls on your lawn. This extra nitrogen works just like a fertilizer; grass absorbs it and becomes greener. Others say that the darker green color is created from wet grass sparkling in the sun. It’s all just an optical illusion.”
Whatever the explanation, as a result of multiple lighting storms overnight here in east Tennessee, our grass and whatever trees were in bloom on our property were all clearly “goin’ green” this morning!
As I have pondered this throughout the day, I have been reminded of a spiritual principle. Many a time in the pages of Scripture, we see that light from above has a definitive impact on life here below!
Many examples could be cited here. While out in the wilderness (as recorded in the Old Testament Book of Exodus, chapter 3), Moses witnessed a bush burning without being consumed. It turned out that the One True God from above was the source. That same One True God went on to enlighten him with truth heretofore unknown.
A few hundred years later, the Prophet Elijah, atop Mount Carmel (as recorded in the Old Testament Book of I Kings, chapter 18), called upon this same One True God to send fire from Heaven. This He did in spectacular fashion!
In the famed 119th Psalm (verse 105), no less an individual than King David also testified to light from above that was a lamp unto this his feet.
Later on, of course, as the New Testament Gospel of Matthew records, three wise men were guided to the Christ Child in Bethlehem by a light from above. Still later, at Pentecost, as recorded in the New Testament Book of Acts, chapter 2, the guiding light of the Holy Spirit descends from above to, and upon, the followers of Christ.
Yet again, in Acts chapter 9, light from above is what intervenes in the life of the Apostle Paul and brings about his radical, life-transforming conversion.
You may well be asking what should we make of all of this? In response, I would make the following observations...
Spiritually, as the New Testament unfolds, the vast majority of the world (being Gentile) was then dead. The remainder (being Jewish) was, at best, then dormant. But when the One True Light from above exploded upon this world in the Person of God's One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, the possibility of a tremendous transformation for both parties immediately unfolded here on earth.
The New Testament Gospel of John (in chapter 1, verses 9-13) puts it this way…
The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
In the natural world, of course, plants do not really have any choice but to embrace the life-giving light from above. As they do, they flourish. And yet, in the spiritual world, things are a bit different. In this world, we here on earth clearly have a choice. We can choose either to embrace or not to embrace the Light from above.
If we choose to embrace the Light from above, we will flourish spiritually. But if we chose not to embrace this Light, then we will invariably suffer the consequences. If nothing else, the events of the last 24 hours have underscored this great truth for me.
I am thankful that the One True “Light of the World” intruded Himself upon me. Recognizing this, I have now been quickened to life! I can only hope that you, my friend, have had a similar recognition.
Back in the day, Michael Johnson had a top ten hit with the song titled “Bluer Than Blue”. In it, he bemoaned the station of one who was bluer than blue and sadder than sad because of a long lost love.
While I have personally experienced more than my share of long, lost loves along the way, I am thankful today that I am not bluer than blue, but rather greener then green! Missing a long lost love is one thing. Missing one’s only shot at Heaven is an altogether different matter!
What about you? Are you bluer than blue today as a result of
missed opportunity after missed opportunity? Then why not become greener than green! Why not change colors and go green today?!
“But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God!” Don’t take that lightly!
SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Julius_Caesar;
https://www.omnicalculator.com/everyday-life/bc-to-ad;
https://www.gardenmyths.com/lightning-grass-greener/.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/niv/exodus/3.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/1_kings/18.htm;
https://biblehub.com/psalms/119-105.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/2.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/acts/9.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/john/1.htm.
SEE ALSO:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluer_Than_Blue;
https://genius.com/Michael-johnson-bluer-than-blue-lyrics.