Soul Praise! Winter has Ended!

“It is winter in Narnia,” said Mr. Tumnus, “and has been for ever so long…. always winter, but never Christmas.” (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis).

To me these words are one of the most descriptive pictures of what life was like on earth before the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The White Witch cursed the land  of Narnia and kept all the inhabits in bondage. However, The Lion Aslan appears on the scene the landscape begins to change.

After the sacrifice and death of Aslan, it looked like winter had once again returned, BUT 3 days later the resurrected Lion roared and the curse was reversed. The glorious beauty of spring swept over the land of Narnia it was the dawn of a new day, a new King and Kingdom had taken over.

Working our way through Psalm 103 we join in bringing forth “soul praise” to our Father God. Not only has Jesus forgiven all our sins on the cross, He also “Heals all of our diseases,”  or as another translation so aptly puts it, “You healed me inside and out from every disease,” (vs. 3)

When Jesus roared into ministry He did so by preaching the Good News that a new Kingdom was breaking forth and He demonstrated it by signs and wonders.  He drove out demons that kept people in bondage. He healed all types of diseases. All these miracles revealed that curse of “Winter” that happened with the fall of Adam and Eve was now indeed reversed.

I realize at times it still feels like “Winter,” especially if you watch the news and hear about all the suffering and hate that seems to be controlling our world. But as followers of Christ we are called to live by faith knowing there is a battle which will continue until Christ returns. Then He will bring forth a new heaven and earth. His glorious appearing will put an end to suffering, sin, and the separation death brings. We will be brought back to our everlasting home in the new Garden of Eden.

As we await His coming we claim the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, only then are we able to follow in Jesus’ steps, and able to share the Good news that King Jesus is indeed still in control. And don’t forget this Lion of Judah  has the power to overcome every demonic force that lurks about on earth and He can heal any disease He so chooses.

No matter what may happen on earth to the followers of Jesus we can stand and shout praise with all of our souls. As we know one day as followers of Christ we will experience our own glorious resurrection of our bodies that will be raised forever in perfection just like Jesus.

As Resurrection Sunday approaches, let your hearts worship with exuberant hope! For we know Spring began when Aslan roared that Easter morning, walking out of the grave and  conquering “Winter.”