Hey, I really like Punta
Cana in the Dominican Republic, and it's a great place, but I probably
will never live there. I do enjoy going there, but my problem is I'm a
four-seasons freak. I just enjoy the changes of season, and I think I
would miss that a lot. Of course, I grew up in the north and so I probably
got used to that.
But, you know, it's kind of neat when the fall colors come in, and then a
hundred bags of leaves that we used to take out of our yard every fall.
And when the fall changes to winter, there's a whole new set of sports and
activities and fun, and you know festivities. It goes a little too long in
some places; I could stand to cut a month or two off of that one.
And then, all of a sudden you're driving along one day and you'll see this
burst of yellow. It's awesome now seeing the daffodils coming out...these
beautiful flowers are exploding in color! It's spring; it feels so good to
be warm again. And then you head into all the fun of summer and the
relaxation and things you can only do there. And, you know you don't have
to wear all those coats. Each season has its unique lifestyle, wardrobe,
and equipment.
There's sort of a cycle of putting away your boots, and your coats, and
your skis. And then you get out your shorts, and your lawn chairs, and
your beach umbrella. Then you put them away and you get out your boots,
your coats...you know how all that goes.
Well, God seems to be into seasons too. After all, He thought them up.
Actually, it doesn't matter if you live at the North Pole or the Equator;
you live in God's changing seasons, and your life is in one of those right
now.
God's people seem to live in three seasons. The reason I can tell is that
I've been studying them in the book of Exodus, where we're going to find
our word for today from the Word of God. Now, as the children of Israel
left Egypt and came to the Red Sea, and then after the Red Sea parted, and
they went on through toward the Promised Land, it's evident in three kinds
of water that they found that they lived in three seasons.
And their seasons are the same as yours or mine. In fact, at any given
point in your life, it's very possible you're in one of these three. That
means right now you are. And each one, just like the meteorological
seasons, has an appropriate way for you to live. Three waters that God's
people encountered and they still do, and they represent a season and a
way to live.
In Exodus 14, for example, here's the first kind of water. They are up to
the Red Sea. "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there
were the Egyptians marching after them." It says, "Moses answered the
people 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the
Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians (and I love this) you see today,
you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be
still.'"
The first season is the season of barrier waters. Have you ever been
there? The Red Sea is behind you; there's nothing there to move. The
chariots are coming at you; there is no exit. It's impossible. Well, God's
instructions during that period of time are to stay where you are and
pray. God parts the waters. That's His job. You know what you do? You
leave it to Him. You wait for Him to act.
Then they went on. In Exodus 15 it says, "They came to Marah where they
could not drink the water because it was bitter, until Moses cried to the
Lord and the Lord showed him a piece of wood which he threw in the water
and the water became sweet." OK, now there are the bitter waters. You've
got the barrier waters, and God parts those; you leave that to Him. And
then when you hit bitter waters, God sweetens the bitter water seasons in
your life. Your job is to look for the sweetener. What can you throw into
that situation that would sweeten it?
And then finally it says, "They came to Elim where there were 12 springs
and 79 palm trees." That's the bubbling waters. Maybe you're in that
season now. God surprises us with bubbling waters. And you know what your
job is? You soak it up; you store it up. You won't stay in any one season
though. God will keep changing the seasons. In a barrier time, you wait
for Him to act supernaturally. In a bitter time, you seek the sweetener.
In a bubbling time, you enjoy it.
They're all designed to teach us to depend on Him. And you can be sure the
seasons will change, but the Savior will not. Enjoy that season you find
Him NEVER absent...Live THERE!
See you in Church,
Rev. Chuck
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