It's Ground-Dwelling Animal Day

Groundhog Day is tomorrow, or today, if your Quay County Sun comes in the mail and you live fairly locally. Groundhog Day is celebrated in the U.S. and Canada, based on European traditions about various animals emerging from their burrows and seeing their shadows or not.

Apparently, the actual animal doesn’t matter as long as it winters underground because the traditional point was actually a four- to six-week weather forecast based on whether it’s sunny or cloudy that day. The accuracy rate of that forecast is generally less than 50% but consistent to contemporary meteorologists.

Interestingly, Feb. 2 falls the 40th day after Jesus’ traditional Dec. 25 birthdate. So, it’s celebrated by some churches as Candlemas when Jesus was consecrated to God as the firstborn male in the family and recognized as the consolation of Israel (Messiah) and light for revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 2:22-40; Acts 2:17-21; 26:19-23; Galatians 2:8).

I didn’t find any specific connection between Groundhog Day and Jesus, but there are some similarities.

First, it doesn’t matter which animal is used for the forecast is similar to religions claiming to be among the many pathways to God. But Jesus clearly stated there’s only one God, and no one comes to God except through him (John 14:5-6; Acts 4:12; Deuteronomy 4:4; 32:39).

Many “Christian-based” churches also teach different ways to be saved, but that’s contrary to God’s will because it leads to confusion among salvation seekers (John 17:20-23; 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40; Galatians 1:6-9; 5:7-10). The Apostles consistently taught only what they received from God through the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:14-17; John 16:12-15). So, a single way to salvation was presented and preserved in the New Testament, and it’s 100% accurate and true to the original teachings when each part is interpreted in light of the whole (1 Corinthians 4:17; 16:1; 1 Peter 1:22-25).

Second, while the Groundhog Day forecast is based on Feb. 2 weather with a sporadic and relatively low accuracy rate, all of God’s promises and prophecies are certain to come about at the right time on his timescale (Joshua 23:14; Psalm 145:13; Romans 5:6; Galatians 4:4-7; Acts 17:31; 2 Peter 3:8-9). We just don’t know when he’ll eventually fulfill his ultimate promise of sending Jesus for us as his children (Hebrews 9:27-28; Matthew 24:36-51).

Therefore, we must be ready by following the one way the one Lord and God has set forth as the one hope for salvation based on the one faith that results in the one baptism at which time God sends the one Spirit into our hearts and places us in the one church body for whom Jesus died and will return (Ephesians 4:1-6; Galatians 3:2 6-29; Acts 2:38-47; Romans 8:9-17; John 14:15-21).

Are you in that one body, which is the church of Jesus as the firstborn son and the first fruits of those to be resurrected into eternal life (Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:22-24; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Romans 6:3-7; John 11:25-26)? That’s the only way to heaven!

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].