The Chipmunk

Shovel in hand, I walked to the back garden to dig up my canna bulbs. To my surprise a layer of sand coated some of the topsoil in the canna bed. I peered down a large hole placed strategically close to the garden and wondered what animal had decided to make a home there. After filling up the hole with dirt, I dug up the canna bulbs. Since my gardening was done, I had no reason to go back there for the rest of the season. I forgot about the hole until this spring.

Returning to plant the canna bulbs, I remembered the hole. My relief in not seeing one was short-lived, because the animal had dug a new hole a few feet away. I filled this hole with dirt. I hoped the animal would be discouraged and find a new place to live. It didn’t work. The next day the hole was back. A few days later I spied a chipmunk with its head sticking out of the hole. As I ran to the backyard, the chipmunk scurried into the forest behind my yard. Knowing the chipmunk was gone, my husband tried to fill the hole with water. It didn’t work. The chipmunk had built an extensive underground house and was determined to lay stake to his territory.

For the last two months the chipmunk and I have been battling for control of the backyard. He digs a hole. I fill it up. He digs a new hole. I fill it up. Gradually my backyard is becoming speckled with random patches of dirt, old holes, which I have filled. The forest is so close. Why doesn’t the chipmunk accept defeat and move his house there?

I can relate to the chipmunk. He has taught me a few spiritual lessons. Sometimes I am so short-sighted as far as God is concerned. I make plans and settle in my own little community without regard to the big picture. This is proper. The godly person “is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalms 1:3). The problem arises when the Lord wants to use me in another community or in another area of ministry. Do I dig in my heels and stubbornly refuse to change, or do I yield to God’s will for my life? I pray I will always be putty in the master’s hand.

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The Water Snake

As my husband carefully steered the boat toward the loading dock, he remarked, “Heather, we have a little problem.” I peered into the boat in time to see a very long water snake slither under the front deck. I looked in dismay at the luggage I had carried to the loading dock. Without a word my husband began to pile the boxes and suitcases into the back of the boat. Then he shoved bags of food under the deck.

It was Thursday, the day before the long weekend. Tomorrow I was scheduled to leave my husband at the cottage and drive further north to a ladies’ retreat where I would be the speaker. I had to squash my fear of the snake and get into the boat. My husband drove the three and one-half miles to our cottage with his legs tucked up under his body. Meanwhile I tried to keep my feet as close to the seat and as far from the deck as possible.

The next morning I asked my husband if the snake would have crawled out of the boat during the night. He was noncommittal. Very cautiously he pulled the boat cover out from under the deck. If the snake was there, we did not want it to attack him. Water snakes can be quite vicious when cornered.

That afternoon I peered into the boat before jumping in. Then I lifted a corner of the boat cover and screamed. Leaping onto the dock, I cried, “Throw the cover overboard! The snake is inside.” Of course, by the time my husband lifted up the cover, the snake had disappeared back under the deck.

Driving the boat was supposed to be my adventure. My husband always drives. I never bargained for a snake. Nevertheless a water snake would not prevent me from going to the retreat. During that trip several Bible verses drifted through my mind. Finally one gave me the most comfort. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3).

At the marina I hoped Mr. snake would discover he was back home. Please be gone when I get back!

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Transitions

My joy last month that spring had arrived was short-lived. I need a new definition of the word “spring.” Seeing a robin on the lawn is not accurate enough. Even a temperature of 10°C (50°F) does not guarantee that spring is here to stay. Soon afterwards the temperature fell, and snow covered the ground at Easter. Two weeks later we experienced our first heat wave and summer storm of the year.

Perhaps spring is like a yo-yo. Because it is the transition from winter to summer, the temperature bounces from one extreme to another. Unlike the fall, where the temperature gradually gets colder, in spring it slowly climbs higher. If this is the case, I must apologize to those newscasters who rejoiced when the snow began to melt. Like spring, many transitions in life are difficult to perceive. For example, the change from childhood to adulthood is gradual. Nobody wakes up one day and says, “Yesterday I was a child, but today I am grown up.” To do so is fallacy.

In contrast, Easter reminds me of a very clear transition from the old to the new covenant. The evening before his crucifixion, Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover with his disciples. Almost 1500 years earlier, the Israelite slaves in Egypt had sprinkled the blood of a lamb on their doorframes. That night the angel of death had killed the firstborn of every family not protected by the blood on the door. After finishing the Passover meal, Jesus instituted a new remembrance service. Under the new covenant we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. At his death the veil in the temple split into two pieces. From that moment on, sacrificing animals became an insult to the effectiveness of Jesus’ blood on our behalf.

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The Promises of God

Spring. This word gladdens the heart. It means the end of long dark nights and short dull days. I feel like bouncing for joy when I walk down the street to pick up my mail. How appropriate it is to jump forward one hour in time! Daylight savings time also signals new beginnings.

Winter came late this year. Once it arrived, we received plenty of snow and frigid temperatures. After experiencing -35°C, -2°C seemed quite warm. Yet I laughed skeptically when the weather newscasters reported that spring was in the air. Shortly afterwards, winter returned. To me, spring only arrives when the temperature is at least 10°C for a few days. I know for sure it is here as soon as I see the first robin of the season.

Long ago God promised Noah that, as long as the earth existed, there would always be four seasons—seedtime, harvest, summer, and winter. Although we all have our favourite season, most people welcome signs of spring, especially after a particularly harsh winter. It is exciting to see the crocuses and tulips sprout up and bloom. Buds appear on the trees and bushes; grass turns green; many birds fly back to this region; other animals awake from a long winter’s nap; black soil beckons the gardener to start digging and planting. I look out my window and spy a robin.

God is good. He always keeps his promises and always tells the truth. Some people may despair during those cold winter days and act as if winter is going to last forever. It doesn’t. Others suffer from severe sunlight deprivation caused by short days. Relief is imminent. God always keeps his promise to Noah and to us. Spring has arrived in southern Ontario, and summer will soon be here. That is my favourite season!

The Love of Jesus

Years ago my husband and I were alone at our cottage one hot summer day. I was busy dusting the furniture in the living room when I heard the screen door slam shut. Looking up, I was amazed to see two of my children standing there with huge grins on their faces.

My son had driven a couple of hours to deliver some papers to an office nearby. Since my daughter had the day off, she had accompanied him. As soon as he had completed his errand, he drove down the highway and parked the truck. Then they hiked about six miles through the woods to the cottage. They intended to walk briskly, but swarms of black flies encouraged them to run instead.

As he sat on the chesterfield, my son calmly peeled off his sunburned skin. They enthusiastically told me about their adventures. How they wanted to surprise their Dad and me! It was a surprise. It occurred to me that I was witnessing love in action. Our children were willing to walk a long way and brave the black flies in order to see us. At first they followed a well marked trail until they came to a narrow path that wound through tall grass. Then they ran through the woods and down a hill to the cottage.

In a far greater way, Jesus left heaven and came to earth because he loves us so much. His love is wider than the ocean, higher than the heaven above, and deeper than the deepest sea. As a child I sang the chorus, “Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heaven above; deep, deep as the deepest sea, is my Savior’s love.” Paul prayed that the Ephesian Christians would grasp “how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ’ (Eph. 3:18).

My children showed their love for their parents when they hiked a long distance. By his actions Jesus demonstrates that his love cannot be measured. The human mind cannot comprehend why God would become a man and die on a cross for sinners. May you know this love that surpasses knowledge.

The Hope of Eternal Life

How many of us make New Year’s resolutions every January? Do you have the same wish list as last year or the year before? Underlying this desire to change and improve is the hope for a new beginning. Perhaps we are anxious to correct past mistakes or to get rid of bad habits. The start of a new year seems like an ideal time to set out on a new course of action. Sadly, most of us soon lose our determination and slip back into old habits.

I am very thankful that God is not like us. When he promises to do something, he does it. Paul explains that his faith and knowledge of the truth rest on the hope of eternal life. In other words, his faith depends on the expectation of receiving eternal life. If Paul cannot count on it, his faith is in vain. Thankfully, God does not lie. Before the beginning of time, the Lord promised to provide this eternal life (Titus 1:1,2).

As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, God determined to send Jesus into the world to save sinners. During all the intervening years in the Old Testament, God the Father was preparing for the arrival of his Son. He never changed his mind or gave up on his plan. Because God is so trustworthy, believers have a sure hope of eternal life. What a precious hope!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).

The Birth of Jesus

When a baby is born, all eyes are fixed on the newborn child. The doctors and nurses are concerned for the health of the new one. Eager to catch a glimpse of the tiny baby, family and friends rally around the couple. As soon as everyone is satisfied that the baby is healthy and happy, attention turns toward the mother. How is she doing? Does she know how to look after her baby? Is she mature enough to put her baby's needs before her own? Oftentimes the father is forgotten or brushed aside.

Nevertheless the father's first reaction to his wife and newborn child is very important. It sets the tone for the emotional foundation of this family unit. Although all children are a gift from God, a firstborn child is very special. When our first child was born, I woke my husband up in the middle of the night and told him I needed to go to the hospital. He quickly dressed and carefully set my suitcase and me into the car. Eagerly he drove to the hospital and then quietly sat with me for hours. After Debra was born, my husband rushed to phone our families. He was so excited that he told everyone she was three feet long! Actually she was twenty-two inches.

Consider for a moment God the Father's reaction to the birth of Jesus. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God promised to send the Saviour. After two thousand years of planning and preparation, Jesus was born at the appointed time. God the Father sent his angels to tell the shepherds the good news. An angel told them, "I bring to you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10,11).

The Father is filled with great joy because the Saviour is born. Jesus will complete the work the Father sent him to do. It is guaranteed. This marvellous salvation will be available to all people. Many angels joined the first angel and sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).

May you know the peace of God by trusting in the Saviour today.
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The Unity of the Scriptures

<> Have you ever had trouble reading through the entire Bible? Once when I was a teenager, my Mom offered me ten dollars if I could do it. Sadly, I never took her up on her offer.

My book, A Tale of Two Kingdoms, traces the history of salvation throughout the Scriptures. It shows how the Lord planned and carried out our salvation from the beginning to the end of time. God’s plan is the greatest love story ever told! How Satan and people react is an important part of the story.

This book started out being an essay about eschatology or the end times. Twelve years ago I offered to do some research for my pastor on the apostolic fathers. They were the first few generations of Christian authors after the apostles. He thought that they should be closest to the truth. However, a booklet by George Fletcher changed my focus from eschatology to God’s marvellous plan of salvation. I had never thought about the timeline of the Bible before.

When Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord promised to send a Saviour. Throughout the Old Testament God prepared for the coming of the promised Seed. Therefore the first part of the book is entitled Waiting for the Promised Seed. The last chapter in this section deals with Jewish writings between the Old and New Testaments. The second part of the book, called Responding to the Promised Seed, considers the work of Jesus on earth and the development of the early Church. The final chapter discusses the beliefs of the first few generations of Christian writers after the apostles. This is the essay that I promised my pastor!

This story has a villain—Satan. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, Satan became a defeated foe. The cover on my book shows very emphatically that Jesus is the victor.

Dr. Adams, past principal of Toronto Baptist Seminary, kindly checked the book for theological accuracy and made many suggestions. Mostly he asked me to add parts of the story that I had left out in the New Testament. Then a Christian editor critiqued it for sales appeal. He said it was well written, but people would want to know who I am and why I write the way I do. Therefore he told me to do three things, which I did. My testimony is scattered throughout the book. There are pull quotes to draw the reader into the book. Every chapter ends with five “Points to Ponder.”

It is a very easy read. My ninety-three-year old mother-in-law read it in two weeks and then proceeded to be a missionary in her own home. My heart’s desire is that the book will encourage all believers to reach out to those around them with the good news of the gospel. To me, the book has turned into a very long tract.

Some other people are reading it more slowly and using the book as a launching pad for their own personal studies. My daughter-in-law discovered that the index is an excellent tool for her to teach Bible characters at the Christian School where she works. There are also maps and, of course, a timeline. “Points to Ponder” at the end of each chapter serve as a devotional guide.

For more information check out www.tale2k.com.