This picture of the pink-white cherry blossom tree (TOP) was taken a week before the end of March 2007. The flowers are in full bloom. The flowers came out so fast sprouting like released springs in all its magnificence. Less than a month later........ .This photo (BOTTOM) of the same cherry blossom trees were taken in the middle of April 2007. Note that many of the original flowers have dropped off, and the remaining ones are either dropping or have turned yellow. It reminds me of one passage in the book of Isaiah.
"The grass withers, the flowers fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (Isa 40:8)"
The speed at which the cherry blossoms bloom and go, is a dramatic authentication of the prophetic word, and a classic natural demonstration of how temporal life is. Here today, and before we know it, they are gone tomorrow. There are many other things that possess such ephemeral qualities. A banana out in the open that turns brown quickly. A cup of hot coffee after 30 minutes. Biscuits becoming soft outside of the air-tight containers. "Hit while the iron is hot" is a popular English idiom to remind us to make full use of the opportunities available to us at any given time. Once we lose it, it may never return. Another idiom is "A bird in hand is better than two in a bush", telling us to choose to treasure what we have in the present, rather than foolishly waiting for results that is less probably fulfilled. This reminds me of Paul's exhortation to the Ephesians to walk wisely in terms of "to make the most out of every opportunity for the days are evil." (Eph 5:16)
We exercise wisdom when we invest our time and resources in accordance to the opportunities available to us. We live fruitful lives when we give the $1 that we have now to the poor, rather than waiting for one million dollars that we do not have before we start giving. We say a kind word to a friend as often as we can, for we do not know when the time will come, where we will never see that friend ever again. We ought to be diligent to love one another as Christ loved us, in the simple coincidences in life, rather than to say constantly "hey, let's stay in touch' and never really bother to follow that up. We should pray immediately, or as soon as possible, when we say "I'll pray for you" for it is not fair to give a promise and subsequently failing to keep it. Life is mostly short-lived. One of the biggest regrets anyone can ever have, is to realize that what he/she had promised, he/she did not fulfill, especially when one knew that ample opportunities were there before.
Recognize the SPECS of life. A Scripture to obey. A Promise to fulfill. An Encouragement to give. Courage to forgive. Strength to love. Follow these SPECS of life. Take care of them, polish and clean them regularly. Finally, wear them and allow these SPECS to help us see and appreciate the momentary things (especially relationships), so that we can touch them with something more permanent: the living Word that flows out of our daily lives.
ks
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