On the Unexpected Interconnectedness of the Body to the Cancer of Sin

The analogy of cancer to sin is readily obvious. Cancer is at first unnoticed until it grows to a size where it is apparent something isn’t quite right. Or maybe until it is large enough that it can’t be ignored. Cancer cells reproduce without ant natural mechanism to stop them. Left untreated, cancel will claim the life of its victim.

Once one has to deal with cancer, the metaphor becomes more detailed. The treatments for cancer are draconian - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation. Generally they are effective, if started early enough, at getting rid of the cancer cells. Unfortunately, the side effects are also draconian. Nearby cells, body parts, are also impacted. Surgery can remove identifiable masses, but because individual cells can travel as the  cancer attempts to completely devour the body, chemo and radiation are used to kill these rogue travelers. Although they target the cancer cells, these treatments also kill innocent bystanders, cells that might have been infested surreptitiously. So after these treatments are complete, the body then has to recover from their effects, which involve months or years of physical therapy of various types. 

One thing one discovers is the interconnectedness of the body. Even if the cancer is localized and the treatment is confined to that area, other parts of the body are also impacted. The human body is fearfully and wonderfully made; the circulatory system,  immune system, nervous system, etc., share the impact of the treatment with parts of the body far removed from the treatment site. Doctors use the TNM system to determine treatment and prognosis. This system is based on how far the cancer has spread, both in distance and functionality.   

The treatment for sin is discipline. The Lord chastens in order to correct, and to remove sin from our lives, if we cooperate. (Hebrews 12:4-11) What we learn, as this process works, is that areas of our life that we did not think would be affected by our sin, were. Because our life is also interconnected. Our secret sins impact the rest of our behaviors, choices, and actions, and infect our daily activities, thoughts, emotions, and decisions. And there is also a spiritual dimension in the unseen realm (as Michael Heiser called it) in which somehow our sins open the door to spiritual evil intrusion into our lives, blocking our prayers and encouraging the work of evil spirits in the lives of those around us. 

As an example, lymphoma  impacts the functioning of our immune system, but it and its treatment affect our tongue, throat, larynx, etc., reducing our ability to eat normal foods, resulting in weight loss, perhaps even requiring intubation. We can’t directly see the spiritual reality this pictures for us, but we can infer it from the way in which things go wrong that couldn’t possibly be connected.

Consider the consequences of lying. We may start with occasional, little white lies, but soon they become more frequent and more substantive. Eventually they infect our relationships with others. We get caught and people distrust us. Or we commit perjury and are formally charged. The Lord’s discipline is usually to let us reap what we sow. He may even create situations to try us, where we are more likely to be revealed. He may send fiery preachers to warn us, or expensive bills to pay. We may have trouble knowing what to say, or remembering what we told others. Lies are weak foundations, that will eventually be demolished. And similar outcomes await pride, avarice, wrath, lust, envy, gluttony and sloth, about which similar consequences could be described.

Nobody wants this. Don’t do anything that fertilizes sin in your life.

2 Corinthians 9-13

 

2 Corinthians 9

2 Corinthians 9:1-5 Oddly, Paul seems concerned about appearances, so he makes arrangements that will make the Corinthians look good when the Macedonians arrive. He wants the Corinthians to appear as generous givers, not as giving grudgingly. This seems the opposite of the modern approach to pleading for tithes and offerings, which often come across as shameless.

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 God loves a cheerful giver. How does He feel about people who give reluctantly or under compulsion? Paul doesn’t say. But Jesus has warned about laying up treasure on earth vs. in heaven. (Matthew 6:25-34) But even then, Jesus did not say what He thinks about people whose hearts are on earthly things, just the implications flow from that those hearts that are not like God’s heart.  Paul here quotes the psalms about how blessed are those who delight in the Lord (Psalm 112:9), the psalmist having enumerated some of the blessings specifically. (Psalm 112:2-8) 

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 The implication is that giving is not for the sake of the gift recipients, but for the sake of the giver to qualify for God’s blessing. The giver becomes a channel through which God can funnel His provision and blessing. 

2 Corinthians 9:12-15 The objective is for the recipients of their gift to recognize the grace and work of God. His gift is greater than what we are able to offer, but our gifts can turn others’ hearts to Him. 

In Paul’s overall discussion of the theology of giving (2 Corinthians 8-9), the emphasis is on the heart of the giver being like God’s heart in love and generosity. He does not speak directly to the issue of the impact of the gift on the recipient. Why are people in need, if God is such a bountiful and generous giver? There are many potential causes, but the real issue is whether the giving, equality before God, is encouraging faith in and obedience to God, or is enabling disobedience and sin. Earlier (1 Corinthians 3:8,13) Paul had promised that each will be rewarded according to their own labor, which will become evident. John later made the same remark. (Revelation 22:12) Proverbs waxes eloquent on laziness and its consequent poverty, but not all poverty is due to laziness. 

Should the giver be responsible for determining whether the needy are being encouraged to laziness (or other sins) by their giving? Many are in need due entirely to circumstances beyond their control. And all of us are sinners in need of God’s generous gift of grace to be saved. However, it is most likely the case that just as after salvation we should turn our lives around and live rejecting sin, with God as our constant companion, the lives of the poor will only be changed in a material sense if the cause of their poverty is addressed on a consistent basis. How this change can come about is a subject of considerable complexity, with widely varying views. But the giver should not let their heart be contaminated by judgmentalism regarding the needy. If the Lord tells a believer to give in a specific circumstance, obedience is the responsibility of that person, without judging. (Romans 14:4; 1 Corinthians 5:12-13; James 4:11-12)

2 Corinthians 10

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 Spiritual warfare is an uncomfortable topic. We need to recognize the reality of the unseen realm (as Michael Heiser called it) and engage appropriately. This battle includes arguments, pretension, thoughts, and obedience in our life. There are many other passages on this topic throughout both Old and New Testaments. Although we are to demolish demonic strongholds, Paul’s bottom line here is that our weapon for this is complete obedience to Christ, as soldiers in the front lines of a battle.

2 Corinthians 10:7-11 In this vein, Paul addresses his own apparent physical presence being perceived as meek and therefore weak. We should not judge others by appearance or presentation, but by the spiritual authority they have, authority that is based on intimacy with Christ and the wisdom and power in the spiritual domain that results from that closeness. Paul’s letters carry the divine authority of Holy Spirit inspiration (as later recognized in making them part of the canon of Scripture). When they meet him in person, he has the same authority, despite his meek appearance, like Jesus. (Matthew 11:29, 21:5)

2 Corinthians 10:12-18 Further elaboration on this: others may boast of their wisdom or spiritual power or apostolic authority. Within God’s kingdom, boasting should be of the Lord -  His power and His work, and especially the salvation that He has brought to us. Miracles are attesting signs to the gospel, to God’s power and love, not to to be used to inflate individuals’ prestige or ego. 

2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11:1-4 Paul invokes two graphic images to make the point vivid about false apostles and deceit. He betrothed them to Christ as a pure virgin, untainted. Seeing the body of believers as the bride of Christ goes back to the Old Testament prophets (Hosea 2:19-20), the parables of Jesus (Matthew 22:1-14, 25:10), and was later spoken directly to John, albeit probably after Paul wrote this letter. (Revelation 19:7, 21:2&9) He then brings up the fall of man, and Eve’s role in being the victim of Satan’s deceit. (Genesis 3:1-13) The point of these references is the importance of correctly discerning God’s call, His word, and the very convincing deceit that Satan brings. Satan does not always bring bad arguments, often his words are very close to the truth, just not the whole truth. See 11:13.

2 Corinthians 11:5-15 Paul now contrasts his credentials to the false apostles. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he said true things about Jesus, and even quoted Scripture. (Matthew 4:1-10) Of course, Jesus knew better than to go with true statements that did not reflect God’s full nature and character. Jesus could turn stones into bread (God had created manna in the wilderness for forty years) but the purpose of fasting was to focus entirely on God, not bodily needs. God would command angels to save Jesus’ body, but it is not a loving response to a good Father to test Him with a do or die scenario. Jesus will one day rule the earth, but it will be from God’s perspective, through righteousness purchased with His own blood, and not in subjection to and worship of Satan. This last is of vital importance to the Corinthians, as they also must beware of accidentally worshipping Satan through their actions. This all seems overwhelming, but the point is that we need both the Lord and fellow believers to help us discern Truth from deception.

2 Corinthians 11:16-21 Paul says that he is not a fool (in the sense above - deceived by Satan), and leads into the strongest of his credentials, discussed next. But even if he was a fool in the worldly sense, they should at least hear him out. Not because of his wealth, power, or erudite speech, but because of his earlier work in preaching the gospel to them -  to get to the heart of the  matter.

2 Corinthians 11:22-33 Paul recounts some of the trials and tribulations he has endured, many of which are recorded by Luke in Acts. These events have several aspects. Firstly, they demonstrate God’s miraculous power to deliver His people, as applied to Paul, just as He delivered the Israelites from Egypt and through the desert. Secondly, they showed Paul’s complete dependence on God, since he was not delivered out of the circumstances by his own actions. (See 12:9-10) Thirdly, God used these trials to refine Paul, to align his heart more closely to the Lord’s. Starting as a Jew, formerly a Pharisee, having become a Christ-follower was only the beginning of his journey. It was the trials and tribulations that formed and grew his spiritual maturity. The bottom line is that he boasts in his weakness because this demonstrates the power of God, which is his credential.

2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:1-4 Paul relates a vision that was really a heavenly visit, fourteen years before he wrote this letter. He does not claim to understand how it happened - only God knows. He heard things that he was not permitted to tell. We can only speculate. John later recounts being told that he was not to record what the seven thunders said. (Revelation 10:4) Whether these things would be incomprehensible to us, or would spoil our souls or infect our lives to make us not what God wants us to be is speculation. When one reads a book like The Final Quest, we have perhaps an effort to convey some of the transcendence of the spiritual realm, with the caveat that it cannot be the whole story, because that is forbidden knowledge to us. 

2 Corinthians 12:5-10 Paul boasting in his weakness shows the fundamental inversion of the world’s values in the kingdom of God. For most of us, God has to use trials to turn us from the world. Christ dying on the cross completed God’s plan of redemption. Our weakness is God’s opening to use us because our failures open the door to recognizing our own need for humility.  Paul reflects on the Lord’s answer to his prayer to have the thorn in his flesh taken away, that His grace is sufficient because His power is made perfect in weakness. 

2 Corinthians 12:11-18 Paul humbled himself by not asking for money, in contrast to the “super-apostles”. Because, what he wanted was not their money but themselves. He wanted them to walk by the Spirit, just as he and Titus did, to become adult children, to live fully Christian lives. Did this make him seem a fool? Yes, by the world’s standards, since the world measures success in hard cash. His sarcasm shows up in saying that he tricked them by loving them instead of exploiting them. They thought him a fool but he tricked them into seeing life from Jesus’ perspective. 

2 Corinthians 12:19-21 Yet there remains this concern, that they will continue to live by the flesh. Paul lists several of the works of the flesh that he fears he may find among them when he comes. (Galatians 4:19-21) He fears that there may be unrepented sin that will have to be confronted, in those who have not heeded his warnings. They may find him not to be as they wish, a loving and forgiving grandfather-figure who is not judgmental. He knows that the Christian life must be lived in holy love, or loving holiness, that believers must recognize that the spiritual fruit that we reap is based on what we sow. He is not an apostle of cheap grace, or whatever term people use to describe a life that ignores God’s call to righteousness because they believe in the blood of Christ covering all sin. (Romans 6:1-7) The “super-apostles” who teach this in order to rake in the big bucks must not be believed.

2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:1-4 Paul quotes the law of Moses to make a point. (Deuteronomy 19:15) He is not just speaking his own opinion and interpretation, but is speaking for the Lord, and the Lord’s power is evident among them. Paul’s apparent physical weakness is like that of Jesus in the flesh, and the spiritual power is similarly not seen directly but is manifested in His dealings. 

2 Corinthians 13:5-10 Self-examination is easier than being tested by God. The test he is talking about: Are they in the faith? Do they believe the fundamental truths of the gospel enough to live accordingly? They are to exhibit Christ in them for the world to see. The Lord gave Paul authority for building them up, not for tearing them down. This is spiritual construction, not worldly promotion. If a house is being constructed and something is done wrong, it is necessary to fix the problem so the house will endure and function properly. God does not allow shoddy workmanship to persist. Better that they fix the problem themselves than wait for Him to fix it. That is what Paul is trying to help them with.

2 Corinthians 13:11-14 Paul closes with general admonitions: Rejoice in the Lord; encourage each other to full restoration of faith; live together in unity and peace as a church body; receive the presence of the Lord - the grace of God, the love of God, and the Holy Spirit - to enjoy fellowship with Him. 

2 Corinthians 5-8

 

2 Corinthians 5

Paul contrasts several aspects of the difference between the earthly and the eternal. It is not a checklist that they have to do all these things to be saved, but more of a description of what God is doing in their lives that they need to recognize and receive.

• 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 Naked mortality vs. being clothed with Holy Spirit. We will long for our heavenly abode as long as we are in this body, but the Holy Spirit is the deposit that God has made into our lives that we will one day arrive at our true home. (John 14:1-2,16-17) We need to recognize and welcome Him.
• 2 Corinthians 5:7 Walking by faith vs. walking by sight. Choosing to act in obedience to God’s calling and ways (both generic and specific to us) rather than what the world tells us to do. Trusting God to provide through our obedient labor for Him, rather than letting our hearts be focused on laying up earthly treasure.
• 2 Corinthians 5:8-10 Viewing death as the end vs. the appointed time to appear before Christ for judgment. In contrast to the judgment of the dead described by John (Revelation 20:7-10), believers will receive what is due them from God’s perspective based on what they did in the body, which will include both punishment and reward. 
• 2 Corinthians 5:11-13 Taking pride in what is seen in this world vs. confidence in what is in our heart. The worldly wise will say that this is crazy. They will say that Mother Teresa fed the poor but didn’t eliminate poverty or change the lives of the poor. But she trusted in God’s perspective and did what He called her to do.
• 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Living for self vs. living for Christ. Christ died and rose from the grave, so in order for us to similarly experience resurrection power, we must die to ourselves (not physically, but in our goals, ambitions, desires) and live for Him and His goals, ambitions, and desires for us.
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Judging others by worldly standards vs. seeing them as potential or actual new creations that are reconciled to Christ. Not to pass judgment on them based on what we see, but to be ambassadors carrying the King of king’s offer of a peace treaty to them, if they are not already reconciled to Him.

2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 What would it look like to receive God’s grace in vain? Paul quotes Isaiah’s promise to the Jews of restoration after they had been exiled and repented. (Isaiah 49:8) Most likely, based on verse 2, by receive he means to experience the offer of God’s grace. The emphasis on ‘now’ implies a timing issue - we can only repent and accept God’s grace in this life. Now they see and recognize both their sin and God’s offer of salvation: He is making the offer but they must accept it, or else the offer is in vain. In the end, He has done all He can, but He can’t or won’t force them to accept Him as Lord. But Paul pleads with them to do so.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 Paul describes all that he has done and been through, to illustrate the point that the trials of life both produce and reveal fruit. They must understand that although trials in this life are hard, God’s unseen eternal kingdom ultimately triumphs. Paul appears to be impoverished, but spiritually, God possesses all things. 

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 A plea for an exchange of mutual affection. Paul has opened his innermost heart to them, and asks them to do the same, which it appears they have not done. They have been guarded in their response to him. He requests a fair exchange.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Being yoked with unbelievers and/or idolators is not possible - it is one or the other. The one true God will not have anything in common with a worshipper of a pagan god, which is really a demonic imposter. God’s conditional promise is that He will be with and among His people, making them His temple. (Leviticus 26:12) He will walk among them and be their God (Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27), as a Father (2 Samuel 7:14; John 14:21&23). The condition is that they separate themselves from idolatry, as the one with beautiful feet bringing good news promises. (Isaiah 52:11)

It is striking that the pagan idolatry of the ancient world was just as prevalent in ‘civilized’ Greece as it was in ancient Palestine. The demonic gods had different names and rituals, but the fundamental principle of the fallen angels seeking to have humans worshipping them through sinful rituals seems to be a norm of the unseen realm. So this appeal is able to cite Israel’s history and the sordid consequences of their idolatry as relevant to first century Greeks. The battle for men’s souls between God and Satan is universal. Even in our day, only the names have changed, as people now worship money or sex or power in place of God.

2 Corinthians 7

2 Corinthians 7:1 How hard is perfect holiness? On our own, impossible. With Holy Spirit anointing, it only needs cooperation with Him. We recognize this as a process towards a goal  which we will arrive at in Heaven, but we should never reject the work of God in this life, in our life here and now, towards holiness.

2 Corinthians 7:2-7 Paul had spoken honestly and openly because of his love for them. Everyone has troubles of some sort. Paul found joy in these troubles recognizing God’s handiwork.

2 Corinthians 7:8-12 We should welcome conviction that brings growth and healing, even though it is painful. Paul’s previous letter was to the point of helping the Corinthians see for themselves where they stand with God. Learning to recognize conviction from the Holy Spirit and respond appropriately is part of the Christian life. The discernment of shane and guilt vs, conviction is a key attribute of spiritual life.

2 Corinthians 7:13-16 Delight in shared faith in and shared obedience to Christ brings joy. 

2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 Giving: Paul is not talking about tithing, nor is he talking about stewardship and responsible use of the resources God has blessed us with. Gifts are not tithing. He is not asking them to support his ministry. (He worked as a tentmaker to support himself.)  He is talking about the grace of giving ourselves, all that we are and all that we have, to the Lord. This is in the context of taking up a collection for the saints in Jerusalem. Whether their circumstances were due to economic hardship in that region (e.g., a drought), or due to persecution of Christians and inability to find jobs in that Jewish culture is not the point. He commends the Macedonians for their desire to give generously, and invites the Corinthians to join them. 

2 Corinthians 8:8-9 There is a difference between earthly riches and spiritual riches. Jesus was rich, not in any earthly sense, but in eternal values. By grace He left heaven, came to earth, and gave Himself to rescue us. 

2 Corinthians 8:10-12 Paul encourages them to follow through and give as they had promised.  If someone’s circumstances had gone bad and they were unable to give, they were not under compulsion, but each should gives as they were able. 

2 Corinthians 8:13-15 The goal is equality. Paul is not advocating socialism, this is not a tax. But as brothers and sisters in the Lord, they should care for each other, so that the equality would be of the sort recoded in the Old Testament when God gave the Israelites manna to eat. God’s provision was such that each had enough, and none had too much. (Exodus 16:18) They must avoid covetousness. (Exodus 20:17, 1 Timothy 6:10) When the Israelites tried to store up manna for another day, other than for the Sabbath, it went bad. (Exodus 16:19-20)

There have been countless Christian communes over the centuries.  People have attempted to hold all things in common like the book of Acts describes for the early church.. (Acts 2:44, 4:32) None of these has survived in the long term. Fifty years is considered a very long survival by historical standards. Socialist nations have not fared well either. In many of them, there is equality of starvation. We might infer different things from this, but Paul is not advocating common ownership, he is encouraging generous giving. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned about setting our hearts on earthly treasure. (Matthew 6:19-21) Generosity, not socialism, is the medicine.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 Paul commends Titus to the Corinthians as a trustworthy envoy, not only to transport the gift, but also to administer it wisely.

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons - life writ large

I had the pleasure of hearing the Fever Candlelight performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by their string quartet in person. The accompanying narration included description of how various musical figures represent elements of nature such as chirping birds, rippling streams, thunderstorms, and so on, as well as the original sonnets that Vivaldi wrote to accompany the music. But what impressed me as I was immersed in all this was the analogy between the seasons of the year and the seasons of life. Four seasons is an apt metaphor and pattern for our individual lives as well as a life of faith, and the church.

Spring is the season of new life, the sprouting of seeds and leaves, their rapid growth and maturation from infancy to adulthood. Humans go through a twentyish year process of growth and maturation from infancy through adolescence. At about age twenty they are (or should be) ready to operate on their own. Youth is full of energy and adventure, the  opening of new doors, the exploration of options. The first panel of Thomas Cole’s The Voyage of Life depicts this.

In the life of Christianity, Easter occurs shortly after the first day of astronomical spring (the vernal equinox). This is followed by fifty days until Pentecost, which celebrates the ministry of the risen Christ in establishing the church, and also marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the believers. This initiated a period of rather uncertain duration during which the early church was established across the Roman Empire, mostly recorded in the book of Acts. 

In the life of the believer, conversion begins a period of rapid discovery of what life with Christ is like. Not only is there a decision and understanding of the Biblical basis for redemption based on that decision, there is a developing personal relationship with a supernatural, spiritual savior who is ever-present. Generally these are times of great joy, at being liberated from slavery to sin, and entering into the collective fellowship of other believers.

Summer is the period of biological height of life.  Trees flourish, crops grow to full size and start to ripen, and thunderstorms water crops and fill reservoirs. Humans begin their careers and families, and become very productive, arcing toward the peak of their capability. The trials and challenges encountered during this period require perseverance to work through and overcome. Contributions to society grow, in various dimensions, such as professional or labor productivity, social and political participation, and shared expertise. The second panel of Thomas Cole’s The Voyage of Life portrays this, although it also shows the interest in exploring life apart from the path God calls us to.

The history of the church records continued growth after the establishment of the foundations, leading up to Constantine’s recognition of Christianity. The witness of the church during this period of growth included persecution, often facing death for refusing to worship the emperor, but saw growth in numbers driven by living their lives in accordance with Jesus’ standard of love. 

The church calendar does not have any major holidays during the summer. Even the Levitical calendar has no major holy days between Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets.

The individual believer continues to grow, but the fruit is costly. Jesus begins to work in earnest to refine the believer’s life - character, behavior, personality - and this often involves targeted trials and tribulations. C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity,  gave a metaphor of Jesus starting to fix up a house by repairing drains and roof, but then doing major demolition and construction to create a palace out of a modest house. The individual believer typically also takes on significant areas of ministry, like teaching Sunday School or leading groups of various kinds. 

Autumn is the season of harvest. Tree leaves change color, crops ripen and are ready for harvest. The weather begins to cool as daylight becomes shorter. The breathtaking panoramas of multi-colored forests and tree-lined streets are breath-taking. More importantly, crops that are harvested provide food for an entire year. Some crops are converted to seed to prepare for next year’s planting season. In human lives, this is the culmination, the capstone of one’s adult life. A person arrives at their destination - their final job, promotion, capstone project. Children are launched into their adult lives - careers, families, callings. People become empty nesters. The trials of life often culminate in a grand lesson as one recognizes the limits of what they can and will accomplish, and people are often severely tested. The third panel of Cole’s Voyage of life depicts the testing aspect of this phase of life.

It is hard to connect this season to church history. Certainly the church has been tested by divisions and scandals throughout its history, once it became nominally a recognized force on the world stage. Sadly, many of the church’s trials had little to do with the maturing of church behavior, doctrine, or spirituality. In the era since the Edict of Milan and the Council of Nicaea (by Constantine), the church has at least seen aspects of growing spiritually through trials, and the harvest of converts. The gospel has been carried to every continent, though not (yet) to every tribe and tongue. The Great Commission has not yet been fulfilled, but I believe the church is still in this stage.

The church calendar does not have a marker for the three feasts of the Levitical calendar that mark autumn: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succoth.  All speak to God’s harvest time. The blowing of trumpets symbolizes a future event in which the trumpet of the Lord will sound. (1 Corinthians 15:52) The day of atonement reminds all that Jesus paid the price as the Passover lamb for our sins. Living in tents for a week speaks to the tabernacling of the spiritual in human flesh, and eventual graduation from that to living in glorified bodies that we will be changed into at the resurrection of the dead. All of this symbolism is tied to autumn, the season of harvest.

The individual believer’s faith also continues to ripen. At some point, he or she has had adequate training in scripture and in righteousness, been through the school of the Holy Spirit which includes discipline and correction, has labored for God’s kingdom in some manner, hopefully borne fruit, and is preparing for both a climax of contribution, and handing over the reins to the next generation. This is bittersweet because as one looks to a heavenly reward, there is also the perhaps forlorn recognition that great contributions to building God’s kingdom have peaked. The harvest has been prepared, the itineraries have been executed, the fruit is brought home, as much as is possible. 

Winter is the season of slumber and death in nature. Annuals die, perennials hibernate. Nothing grows. Winter weather is cold and often icy or snowy. Sometimes there are blizzards. Unique winter sports like skiing and sledding are possible but require warm clothing. The end of human life cycle includes retirement, gradual weakening of health, often requiring care for normal daily functions. The phrase "the golden years" was popularized in the 1950s and 1959 through marketing and advertising campaigns by real estate developer Del Webb for marketing planned retirement communities. While the slowing pace of life is inevitable, the other issues involved with aging often make this period of life not terribly relaxing or enjoyable. Death is inevitable.  The fourth and final panel of Cole’s Voyage of life illustrates this. Our real rest is in heaven.

In the life of the church, winter includes advent, Christmas, Epiphany. This seems more aligned with Spring, the era of new life. However, history suggests that the date for Christmas is based on trumping a pagan festival associated with the winter solstice. In broader terms, a season of rest for the church will occur during the millennial reign of Christ. This was symbolized by the feast of booths in autumn, but will be realized in the future. (John 14:2) 

The individual believer has this promise, very much like the church, of enjoying eternity with Jesus. This is not like a reward that differs from the life of faith, but a consummation of it. We will see Him who has been beside us invisibly through our earthly journey of faith. What kind of activity we will engage in is a matter of speculation, but kicking back and being waited on seems unlikely. Perhaps skiing and sledding? Perhaps ruling angels? Caring for animals? Reaching out with God’s truth to other species that we do not even know exist?

The common themes of beginnings, maturing, growth and hard work, reaping, and ultimately resting are woven through nature, human life, the church, and plan of God, and the Christian life of the individual believer. It is so naturally woven into the fabric of existence that we cannot imagine any other paradigm. We can give God both thanksgiving and glory that He has blessed us with the richness of the dimensionality and variations present in existence, as Vivaldi does in his Four Seasons.