The author of the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote in Chapter 3 verse 1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” God does not do things or allow things to happen without a purpose. Our time is truly “His” time graciously gifted to us to be used to glorify Him with its use. We are currently in the season of winter. Here in the Northeast, there are those who anxiously await their beloved winter. Cold weather delivers the snow that builds their snowman, snowballs and snow angels. It propels the skier swiftly down the slopes and the snowmobile across the fields and through the trails. Freezing temps harden the ponds to support the weight of the blade-clad adventurist. Then there are those who dread this dark and frigid time of year. Cold houses demand expensive heat. Cold cars consume precious time to warm up and icy roads do much the same as well as increase the challenge of simply reaching their destination without incident.
I appreciate the “rest from the busy” that comes with winter, but much more than that it is a great reminder of a God who keeps His Word. We read in Genesis 8 that following the Great Flood Judgment when the ark came to rest on dry ground, Noah gave thanks to God for His protection and God responded with this promise:
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
There is a season because there is a sovereign and loving God who faithfully keeps every promise He made. Whether you like the weather of winter or not, praise the Creator who will bring us a warm and colorful spring in just a few more weeks, guaranteed! Let’s give him the glory He deserves for the time and season of winter.
