“Seasons come and seasons go” is an adage we’ve all heard before. This time of year (Autumn, aka Fall) reminds us all too well of this very fact! Especially in our neck of the woods, do we witness all four seasons–a blessing we may sometimes take for granted. Many love the changing colors of the trees but dread the season that follows. However, if one dislikes the cold wintery days, hold tight, and Lord willing, the seasons will bring change once again into a spring of flowers. “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).
The changing of the seasons is a reminder of a few things among many. First, the changing seasons are a reminder of the Almighty Who created! “The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter” (Psalm 74:16, 17). A deeper look into the science of it all reveals yet another stone in the foundation for the cosmological argument. The precise tilt of the earth, the exactness of its revolving around the sun, all while spherically spinning on its axis, produces what we experience as day & night, the changing seasons, and a 365 day calendar. Yet, the atheistic community expects one to swallow the absurdity of an illogical, evolutionary happenstance. “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens;” (Proverbs 3:19).
“Seasons come and seasons go,” is not only true of the natural world, but is a predominant description of life in general. Solomon wisely wrote, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven,'' and then proceeded to describe the seasons of life generally speaking (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We all share in these various experiences of life, these are to be expected, but it is our perspective and our conduct while amongst the seasons of life that make all the difference. Such was Solomon’s conclusion in light of the emptiness that characterizes a self-gratifying life (Ecclesiastes 12:13). During the phases of life, sometimes there are smiles, and sometimes there are trials, but in all seasons, the Christian may keep his joy: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).
While the transient world is full of uncertainty, the changing seasons is just the catalyst we need to seek that which transcends. Unlike the creation, the Creator cannot change (Malachi 3:6): “They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; 12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail” (Hebrews 1:11, 12); “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The changing seasons of life will sometimes discourage us, but as Paul lifted the chin of the church at Corinth, may we also gain courage from the scriptures: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Our hopes and dreams are anchored to the Rock of ages (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
As we enjoy the colors of the changing leaves and watch them eventually fall to the ground, may we be reminded of the Creator of heaven and earth, and the changing seasons of life as is common to humanity. Most of all, may this transient world drive us into the arms of a loving God, Who rescues us from a fallen world of sin, and will deliver us to the land where the tree of life is in eternal bloom. Dear Christian, “hold to God’s unchanging hand!”