After The Blizzard

In the aftermath of the blizzard, weak rays of sunshine peeked through breaks in gunmetal skies. The grumble of snowplows scraping along roadways in a valiant attempt to free ribbons of asphalt from mounds of blizzard-laid snow blended with the grating of snow shovels on sidewalks and the growling of snow blowers clearing walkways. Neighbours hailed one another with comments about the amount of snow, the bitter cold, and the biting wind.

We were battling back from the blizzard of 2015 while casting apprehensive glances at leaden skies threatening to dump further snow from winds that whipped across the Great Lakes. This winter was one to remember, and we were only in the first week of February. Even Punxsutawney Phil and Wiarton Willie predicted six more weeks of bitter weather yet to come — as if a couple of coddled rodents could really foretell the future or forecast the weather.

Matthew 16:2-3 – But [Jesus] replied to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?" (NASB)

Of course, the point that our Lord was making was not about weather but about a far more significant event. Jesus was teaching His disciples about the end of time when He would return to gather His own to Himself to live in glory forever.

Jesus' return as King of kings and Lord of lords is one of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. The ancient Apostles' Creed states:

The third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Unlike implausible rodents, we can believe the Apostles' Creed when our future life as believers is foretold. Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. We can be certain because Jesus said that He would. We can be sure of this because Scripture promises us that the day of the Lord will come.

Thus, let us expectantly say the Apostles' Creed with the conviction that Jesus will come again. As certainly as the warming weather of spring follows the shivers of winter, Jesus will return to gather the "quick and the dead" to live with Him forever.

Prayer: Father God, while we await the day of the Lord, enable us to be a living creed which others can read so that they may come to know Your grace and mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

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