Groundhog Day

Hebrews 9:27-28, Romans 8:1

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Well, it’s early February, and so just the other day, the nation once again observed Groundhog’s Day focusing especially on a certain groundhog out in Pennsylvania named Phil, who emerges from wherever he lives. And if he sees his shadow, that means that we can expect another six weeks of winter. And if he does not see his shadow when he comes out and looks around, then the rule of thumb is that we’ll have an early spring. He’s not very accurate in predicting the length of the winter, but it’s a cute tradition.

Back in the early 1990s, there was a famous movie by the same name Groundhog Day, and in it a man is fated to relive the same 24 hour period of time over and over again, sometimes committing the same mistakes, sometimes improving things a little bit. It’s a very popular movie. And for some though, that idea of returning and doing things over and over again is not fiction. It’s what they believe. That’s the teaching of reincarnation. And it’s very popular throughout the world.

People maybe are attracted to the notion that they’ll get a second chance to relive their lives, possibly, and to make up for some mistakes they’ve made. On the other hand, that same notion of coming back again can be quite overwhelming, can even bring about a sense of despair with the idea that I’ll never be able to do things just as I should. I’ll never get out of this relentless cycle I’m living in.

By contrast, our Christian faith teaches something different. In Hebrews, in the New Testament, in the ninth chapter, we read the third verse 27. It says,

Just as it is appointed for people to die only once and after this comes the judgment, (Hebrews 9:27)

And so that reminds us that we don’t anticipate returning again and again but that we live our lives here on Earth one time and that they will end either when Christ returns or with the day of our death, with a judgment over our lives. That, too, can be quite a daunting prospect. I know I’ve sinned. Now, how am I going to make things right with God in that moment of my judgment? Well, as Christians, we know that that isn’t such a frightening thought. After all, the Bible says

So then, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

and then going on in this same section in Hebrews.

so also Christ was offered only once to take away the sins of many, and he will appear a second time—without sin—to bring salvation to those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

So we find our comfort in knowing that Jesus came and lived that perfect life the law demands of us for us, and so found in Christ, trusting in Him when it’s time for us to face the judgment we know that we will pass and that we can look forward to eternal life with our Lord in heaven. Amen.