THE CROCUS ARE BLOOMING
Isaiah 35:1-10 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. Strengthen the feeble hands steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, or will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
In 1997 Beckie, Mary and I had a chance to go to Israel. Our son Joshua was going to college, so unfortunately he had to stay at home and work. I really regret that he didn’t get to go, because it was a wonderful trip. We really enjoyed seeing all the sights that we had read about in the Bible. Just to go there makes the Bible come alive as we read it. Our very first morning Mary and I woke up early, and because our motel was right on the water's edge of the Mediterranean Sea we decided to take a walk down the beach. While walking along I got my first blessing. There on the side of a steep embankment was a single crocus growing. By the placement of it there was no doubt that it was not planted by someone other than the Lord. As soon as I saw it the Holy Spirit quickened my spirit to this verse. The Lord had confirmed to me that the preparations of Jesus’ return were being made right before my eyes.
If you have never been to the middle east, you may not realize how baron and unlike the milk and honey we read about in the Bible. While most of the middle east is still baron, Israel is beginning to change. Trees are again being planted, and with irrigation desert areas are turning green. Israel is a leader in the export of flowers and all kinds of agricultural products, and is know as Europe’s greenhouse. In 2005 something interesting happened when seeds that were 2,000 years old were planted. They grew and trees that had been extinct for 1,800 years came back into existence. Just as Isaiah prophesied the desert and parched wilderness will come back to life before the return of the Lord, God is now preparing Israel for it. While most Jews have not come to this conclusion, I certainly have and so have a host of angels in heaven, as well as demons on earth. God’s prophecy is true and is coming to pass. For the most part most Jews as verse 5 aludes to have blind eyes and deaf ears. They have the scripture before them and have it memorized, but are not spiritually discerned. They have put a curse on themselves when they said speaking of Jesus’ death, “Let his blood be on us and our children.” When they hardened their heart as much of the world has regarding to know and love Jesus, the Holy Spirit pulled back from them. They won’t have discernment until Jesus actually returns that verse 5 and 6 come about. When they see how he returns to saved their nation from the nations of the world led by the antichrist, they will believe that Jesus was and is their promised Messiah.
When they receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the curse will be removed and Israel will be the focus of blessing throughout the world. At last the peace that the Jews have been praying for will be theirs, because Jesus the Prince of Peace will be there. At last everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Are you looking for the return of Jesus? I hope so, because for those who love and trust in Jesus they will experience a earth like it has never been since before the fall of man to sin in the Garden of Eden. Luke 21:27,28 reminds us, “At that time they will see the son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. That sounds like good news to me!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we yearn for your return to earth to put an end to sin, wickedness and evil in the spiritual realm and physical realm. What a wonderful place earth will once again become when you come back. We love you Jesus!
