Sakura (2 Corinthians 4:18)

The blooming of the sakura, or cherry blossom, is an important spring time ritual in Japan. For about one week in the spring, throughout the country, countless numbers of sakura trees blossom in a dazzling array of pink, white, and red. And following the sakura blossoms are millions of people, flocking to view this amazing annual site.

For many of the Japanese people, the fleeting beauty of the flower is symbolic of the Buddhist doctrine of mono no aware, a doctrine that stresses the awareness of impermanence, and is deeply ingrained into the Japanese psyche. Thus, the viewing of the sakura blossoms reinforces these Buddhist traditions for the Japanese people.

As a Christian viewing these blossoms, I, too, am reminded of the fleeting nature of this life. But instead of dwelling upon the negative and the impermanence of what this life offers, it causes me to look upward and focus upon the eternal nature of God and His promises.

...while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18

God created this world for us. Every aspect of His creation was perfect until sin entered the world through our disobedience. But even within this sin-tainted world, we can still catch glimpses of the beauty that He intended for us. The sakura is a reminder of the fleeting nature of the world but more importantly, it is a reminder of God’s promises of an even greater and permanent beauty within His presence in Heaven.

This promise is for all who confess their sins, repent, and place their trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And when you do, the unimaginable beauty of Heaven will be yours. It will not be a fleeting memory but an eternal promise.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.