As Autumn Fades

The other day as I headed to church, I noticed, as I often do, the trees alongside of the road. At this time of year, the trees along this particular stretch of road are adorned with some of the best fall color.

But a thought came to mind about them. Spring is a very pretty time of year, but I think many would argue that it is fall where trees really are at their most beautiful.

And yet, it is for such a brief time and then they are bare, lifeless, asleep.

It reminded me that the seasons in a strange way resemble our own lives as believers.

Spring comes, it is filled with new life. Animals give birth, flowers bloom, the trees vibrantly spread their green leaves. The warmer weather brings a pleasantness to the air. Everything is new. Summer comes, and it is a time of much fruitfulness. The fall comes and leaves change in their glorious display of yellows and reds and golds, until it is their time to fall and fade away. Then comes the cold grasp of winter, where it is as if the whole world is in slumber. And the cycle begins again, as it will until God brings about the end of this age.

In the same way, life begins and all is new. Soon it turns to the prime of life. The later years come, and then we sleep, awaiting Christ's return where we will receive the fullness of our salvation.

But what really hit me the most on my short drive was the thought of autumn's end.

In God's design, trees are arguably at their best display, their brightest moments, towards the end of their 'life'. In other words, they finish well.

As autumn closes out this year, I felt that this was a fitting way to talk about it. That we would be encouraged to live our lives in a way in which we would finish well.

It's likely tempting to reach later years and feel as if it's time to settle, to let others do the work. In some respects this is true, but our work for God never ends. Its form changes, but the mission does not.

So let us be motivated by what we all desire to hear from Jesus in that day:

"...'Well done, good and faithful slave..." - Matthew 25:21

But even as the years fade, the leaves fall, and we enter that slumber, let us remember:

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.

And then we will experience that new creation, and experience a beauty that even the most vibrant fall colors cannot match.