Happy Groundhog Day!

Eastford Baptist Church
February 2, 2007

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

I don’t know about you, but I could hardly sleep last night. What was the problem, you ask? Anxious anticipation is the answer. I was like a child the night before leaving for a Disneyworld vacation. I couldn’t wait for morning to come. What was the big event? Now please don’t tell me you forgot what day it is. It’s February 2nd – Groundhog Day! It’s the day of the year when we throw all our intellectual capacities to the wind and look to a quadruped to predict the weather for us. Each year on February 2nd a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil (Marmota monax, also called a Woodchuck or Whistle Pig – actually a large rodent belonging to the marmot family) makes a prediction of what will happen with the weather during the next 6 weeks. If Phil sees his shadow, he predicts 6 more weeks of winter. If Phil doesn’t see his shadow, winter is over and spring is on its way. Longing to break out the suntan lotion, I couldn’t wait to hear Phil’s prediction this year. And apparently I wasn’t alone. There were some 30,000 true groundhog believers gathered on Gobbler’s Knob, most arriving as early as 3:00 AM, to hear Phil’s forecast. And true to form, Phil emerged from his stump at 7:28 am. Speaking in groundhogese, he alerted the world that there will indeed be an early spring this year.
Now before you start storing away your winter coats and sweaters you might want to ask about the accuracy of Phil’s predictions. To find out I checked his official website (he’s fairly technically advanced for a hibernating rodent) and learned that his weather predications are reported to be 100% accurate, dating all the way back to the late 1800’s. That’s at least according to the inner circle of official caretakers who watch over Phil and organize Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA. Whether his predictions are accurate or not, I would guess that he is at least as precise as some of the weather predictions we normally hear on the news each day. As I browsed through his site, I learned another interesting fact about Phil., the groundhog. This amazing rodent is supposed to be the exact same groundhog which has been making weather predictions for the past 120 years. Even though the lifespan of an average groundhog is 6-8 years, it is reported on his official website that he sips a secret elixir each year, which gives him 7 more years of extended life. Amazing! - A groundhog that lives forever.
OK - So let’s pause for a moment and reflect on what we’ve learned thus far: Each year there is a large gathering of true groundhog believers who come together in the middle of the night, in the middle of winter, in a small town in Pennsylvania to hear a talking rodent who lives forever make a prediction about their immediate future. --- Who says real life isn’t stranger than fiction?
Of course I realize nobody really believes our furry little friend’s predictions. It’s just a good reason to have a fun celebration in the middle of a grey Pennsylvania winter. And besides, I’m sure it brings a little boost to Punxsutawney’s economy as well. But one thing it does bring to mind is that everyone truly is interested in what the future holds. It’s not just about the next 6 weeks that concerns us, but the next several months and the years which follow. Sometimes our worry over what lies ahead can become so consuming that it paralyzes us in the present. But the Bible says there is a way to put your heart to rest when you think about what lies ahead. In the verse above there are three things you can do to put your heart at ease as you think about your future. And when you do these three things, God will respond and do His part. What must we do?
(1) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” Notice the word “all.” It actually appears twice in this verse. “all your heart” “all your ways” Trust God in all the areas of your life – no exceptions. It doesn’t say we are to offer partial obedience to our Lord’s teaching and instructions. It doesn’t say with most of our heart. We are to trust Him completely, always, inclusively – no exceptions. God is looking for total commitment.
(2) “Lean not on your own understanding” Don’t put your trust in anything other than the wisdom of God. This requires an attitude of humility as we recognize that the wisdom of the world is incomplete and fickle. Just because you think something or reason it out in your own mind – that doesn’t make it right. We need to measure our understandings against the truth of God’s Word. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Don’t put your trust in your own reasoning – trust what God has revealed. (3) “In all your ways acknowledge Him” In every area of life, live to bring glory to the Lord. In your family, in your work, in your private life – live in way which will cause your Heavenly Father to smile.
How will God respond if you choose these three things? The verse says, “He will make your path straight.” That’s the Bible’s way of saying God will watch over and control not just the next few days and weeks but the entirety of your life. No matter what comes around the corner He will be there to guide, provide and lead you. You will not face one moment of your future alone. Knowing that your Heavenly Father is smoothing out your path should remove any anxiety you might have about what lies ahead.
Truth be known, last night I actually slept like a baby. No worry. No anxiety. No real concern about the predictions of a physic groundhog. Because I know who holds my future. Whether there are more grey days of winter or the bright fresh days of spring, I know I am safe and secure in the arms of my Savior, Jesus. I pray you have that same peace in your heart. If not, read the verse above again and decide to do your part by trusting Him, leaning on Him, and acknowledging Him. I promise God will always do what He has promised.

Hope your have a wonderful Groundhog Day,
PT