Life Beyond Here and the Palm Lily
Emily Seck shares how the palm lily encouraged her to consider the new life that we have in Christ. John 11:25-26 speaks of Jesus as the resurrection and the life. This is our hope for the future, when He returns, but also for today.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’”
(John 11:25–26)
We have just finished our sermon series on Ecclesiastes and returned to the Gospel of John. Reflecting on both, I am reminded again and again that there is so much more to life than what we see and experience here on earth.
It is easy for me to get caught up in the worries of the everyday. Getting my boys ready for school, meeting deadlines, keeping up with commitments. Yet, in the quiet moments, I realise how fleeting these concerns are when compared with eternity. Around us are people grieving, suffering, and losing loved ones. In John 11, Martha faced that pain too. Her brother Lazarus was gone, and even as she expressed faith in Jesus, she likely did not expect the miracle that would soon unfold before her eyes.
The recent passing of a loved one, observing the suffering others are experiencing around me, together with our study of Ecclesiastes, has deepened my longing for what lies beyond this life, the eternal hope we have in Christ.
When I was creating this artwork, I wanted to find a plant that could remind me of resurrection and new life. The Palm Lily (Yucca) came to mind. Outside my parents’ home, their neighbour has one that looks quite ordinary most of the year … just green, spiky leaves. But one day, a tall stalk of white flowers burst forth from its centre, radiant and full of life. That unexpected beauty caught my attention and reminded me of the new life that springs forth from what once seemed lifeless.
Our life in Christ is like that, full of hope, promise, and renewal. What looks ordinary now will one day be transformed into something glorious. I look forward to that day , to seeing the faithful saints who have gone before us, and most of all, to meeting our risen Lord who is the Resurrection and the Life.
Click on the image to download a copy! Feel free to use on your phones as a wallpaper.