Searching For Spring By Christine HooverSample

Day Seven

The Most Colorful Way to Live

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1

We too often think of obedience to God as keeping us from color and life and beauty. The words we use to describe right and wrong are black and white. But true obedience is bright orange and joyful yellow and warm turquoise—really any pure color—because obedience is more worshipful, joyful gratitude than anything else. Obedience is the reflexive song of the free; it actually helps us fully receive and embrace the freedom we’ve been given in Christ. 

At the moment our faith was placed in Christ, the truest of true realities became true for us: we are now seen as perfect in God’s eyes because we’re covered all over in Christ.

God knows this reality, but it often takes time for us to come to an understanding of it. Our minds need transforming, our hearts need disciplining, our lives need to be split open by the Holy Spirit. God is patient to take one step at a time, knowing to do otherwise would crush us. Only in presenting ourselves to God can the truth of who we’ve become in Christ become move vivid and real to us. As we do so, the Holy Spirit gives us the mind of Christ, the perspective of God, and the ability to continue pursuing purity. We begin to recognize the beauty in patient endurance and costly obedience, and not only do we recognize it but we begin to crave God’s incisive work on us. 

This is transforming beauty while waiting for ultimate beauty, and it’s the most vivid life there is. 

Yet it’s only when you embrace God and refrain from embracing self that you’ll discover this to be true. The scales will fall from your eyes and the world will come alive, beauty all around. Purity gives you eyes to see it and to appreciate it. Instead of fear, you’ll find the beauty in winter. Instead of lack, you’ll find fullness and provision. Instead of barrenness, you’ll know life. Instead of little deaths, you’ll see future resurrection. Instead of sacrifice, you’ll see reward. Although you’ll see winter with your eyes, you’ll experience spring in your heart. 

In what ways does obeying God bring freedom? What is the difference between “transforming beauty” and “ultimate beauty”?