Several years ago, while my wife Darlene was taking a Master Gardener course through the County Extension program, she planted rose bushes all over our yard. With her knowledge and care, we had pretty roses of many colors all summer long. Our favorite was the double delight. It was pale yellow near the bud and bright red on the tips. The special prize was the wonderful fragrance it gave off. I’m fairly sure that the beautiful colors and sweet aroma gave this rose its name.
I don’t believe there are Biblical-type miracles today. When Jesus Christ healed it was supernatural and instantaneous. No one today can walk on water (Matt 14:25) nor restore a shriveled hand with words alone (Mk 3:1-5). However, God still uses His amazing providential powers to produce unexpected and seemingly impossible surprises in human affairs. One happened to me yesterday. This year our double delight rose bush was sad indeed. It dried up and had only hard and small roses with hardly any aroma. After the first frost we had even forgotten it was out there. God had a real treat for us. About the first of November my daughter told me to come see our last rose of summer. It was the most beautiful double delight I had ever seen and had the fragrance I remembered so well. It has blessed us in so many ways as we remember the wife and mother who planted it and is now in a home where nothing ever dies.
One of Jesus’ many titles is The Rose of Sharon (SS 2:1). It is not due to His physical appearance (Isa 53:2-3) rather His inner beauty and acts of love. The Old Testament Prophet Isaiah also mentions the splendor of Sharon and the glory of the Lord (35:2). In the next few verses, he predicts some of the miracles that Christ would do; Heal the blind, the deaf, the lame and the mute (vv. 3-6).
Millions of souls will know the sweet fragrance of His compassion, love and sacrifice when they reach the home He has prepared for them in heaven (Jo 14;1-4). This Rose of Sharon has uncountable delights for those who love and obey Him (Rom 6: 3-6) (Gal 3:26-27) (Rev 21:1-7). Our last rose was not a miracle, but a wonderful reminder of a special wife and mother and an extraordinary Savior.
Jim Bailey
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