Fall is my favorite time of the year and it brilliantly adorns the countryside
of Tennessee! One can't help but think of the glory of God while observing
the fall foliage. As we behold the trees glowing radiantly against the
fading green background of summer, their colors remind us that a new season
is again on it's way. You know ladies, as Christians, we are all as different
as the shades of the leaves in fall but God has placed us together in
the body of Christ with the intent of creating a beautiful picture! Hopefully
it is one that the world can observe and praise God for the work and changes
He has wrought in every one of our lives… As you consider the trees and
their marvelous color changes, think about this verse and liken it to
your own spiritual life as nature provides many a lesson for us in the
beauty of the seasons.
Mark 8:24 (KJV)
And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
So many Christians are like the old oak tree that said in the fall of
the year, "I am perfectly satisfied with my this year's leaves, therefore
I will not allow them to fall to the earth; I will hold on to them." As
a result, the north wind blew and the leaves faded, but the old oak clung
to it's last summer's leaves. In that unsightly condition it passed the
whole winter through, the wind rustling through it's dry, dead leaves.
Thus it is with a great many Christians... Instead of allowing their past
experiences to fall, they cling to them and do not prepare for a new and
better experience as it may come daily. It is only by the tree shedding
it's leaves that it can hope to put on the beautiful foliage in the springtime.
When I came across this little analogy above, I immediately thought of
Isaiah 64:6 that says:
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as
filthy rags; and we all do fade as the leaf; and our iniquities, like
the wind, have taken us away.
Ladies, when we hold onto our sin day after day, year after year and do
not repent of it, we cannot possibly expect to bloom anew with spiritual
beauty, as does a tree in the time of spring! Our spirits dry up and fade
away, they simply do not prosper. Like Adam and Even in Genesis 3:7, we
work to cover our sins instead of letting the Lord carry them away as
He sees fit. We fail to consider that there comes a time when God will
visit our tree expecting to find fruit thereon…
Matthew 21:19 (KJV)
And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing
thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee
henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
A false profession usually withers in this world, and it is the effect
of Christ's curse! You see ladies; God looks for a flourishing in those
who profess Him. Will He find fruit upon your tree? Believers must allow
the touch of Christ to make a noticeable difference upon their lives!
We must allow God to take each leaf away from us one at a time before
our sins carry us away from Him completely… Otherwise, you and I will
become nothing more than a tree "in the way" as Jesus described this one.
I certainly don't want to hinder God's perfect work, do you?
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: OLD THINGS ARE
PASSED AWAY; behold, all things are become new.
Ladies, we must let go of old things - don't hold on to them so tightly,
for there is no beauty there! Each year we should be experiencing continual
growth as a child of God. We must not carry our leaves from one season
to the next! Those old, dry, dead, fall leaves will look so out of place
come spring, amen? In order to purposely loosen fleshly foliage, the Lord
will lovingly send a timely wind our way in order that future growth could
take place in our lives! Will you resist the wisdom of your Creator, dear
lady? When you stubbornly oppose the plan for all seasons, God will only
be forced to send a stronger wind your way to do it's perfect work upon
those old leaves of which you tightly clutch…
Jonah 1:4 (KJV)
But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty
tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
Yes, we all remember the story of Jonah's resistance and how God stirred
up a whale of a storm that shook loose Jonah's disobedience from within
his heart. His old habits and attitudes had to fall to the ground in order
for God to bring forth growth and obedience in his life. As a tree, Jonah
became taller and stronger, had a wider spreading capability, thereby
bringing shade to many a soul and abounding with more fruit. Yet let us
also remember ladies, that we can never become proud of our growth, we
must not stop to cling even to these radiant leaves year after year. How
foolish and boastful would a red tree look in the green of springtime!
Bright fall leaves must also be yielded to the Lord in order for their
witness to hold their proper place in our lives…
Daniel 2:21
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth
up kings…
Self-righteous Christians would pridefully cling to their celebrated change
- an exhibition without end, yet even these must fall to the ground. The
Lord in His wisdom designed their brilliance to soon fade away, reminding
us that the seasons are HIS, not ours! GOD'S glory is the only glory that
deserves to stand out at all times, not our own, amen? Though victory
may be experienced in certain areas, new growth must again be considered
and prepared for, a new season of life is fast on its way! These time
frames are set that we may always have something to develop for God's
glory. Ladies, let us seize favorable opportunity for every good purpose
and work and render unto God what is required of us in each period of
our lives…
Eccles. 3:1 (KJV)
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the
heaven:
Enjoy the beauty of this fall season thoughtfully. I pray that as each
of you observe the leaves falling one by one, you would ask the Lord to
help you let go of old things and allow Him to bring forth new things
into your life, season by season. Trust Him for your beauty and growth
- let God have every one of those leaves on your tree and make the required
changes!
Revelation 21:5 (KJV)
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new...
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60: 1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
