A View from the Nest

51 I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. 52 It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. 53 This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever. 54 When this body that decays is changed into a body that cannot decay, and this mortal body is changed into a body that will live forever, then the teaching of Scripture will come true: “Death is turned into victory! _{1 Cor 15:51-54 (GW)}

The familiar sound of honking geese caught me off guard this evening as I sat outside enjoying the end of summer. This is the last weekend before the official fall season begins. The school buses are already running around town picking up their daily charges and depositing them at their respective institutions of learning. The sounds of autumn are certainly in the air. Although the weather is turning a bit cooler in the evening it has been nice the last couple of weeks for those last minute trips to the seashore or vacations to the mountains. I have yet to get into the mindset that accompanies autumn, I am still in summertime mode. Thus the familiar honking of the southbound geese caught me unaware.

Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking into the future. No matter how hard we try to hang onto those last lazy hazy days of summer, they eventually come to an end. The incessant honking of Canadian geese is a sure sign that summer is past and winter is just around the corner. I enjoyed my summer time and really did not want it to end. To me there is something magical in a warm summer night. But alas those days are now past and the long dark nights of winter are fast approaching. Try as I might I can not extend the length of days, past the times and seasons set by God, I can only endure the long cold winter nights and anticipate once again the sound of honking geese as they return from the warm southern climate to once again grace our northern skies.

To some, the autumn honking of the geese is a welcome sign that the hot days of summer are past to me, however, I much prefer the spring time return of those same honking geese to remind me that the cold dark nights of winter are over.

Much like the sounds of the honking geese indicate the changing of the seasons, so shall the time of the End, be punctuated with the sound of the trumpet blast, indicating that death has now given way to victory, and life has sprung up from the grave. That is probably why I prefer the spring time migratory honks of the geese flying overhead to the autumnal southward trek. The latter reminds me all too well of the fleeting of time towards the darkness of night, while the former brings hope of a brighter tomorrow.

Sound forth the trumpet therefore, so that once and for all time the deadness of wintertime can be swallowed up in the springtime of new life. Until then I shall prepare for the cold long winter while anticipating the soon coming springtime renewal.

But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. _{Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)}