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October 2010:
Autumn Wonder by Matthew Coad  With the coming of autumn, the leaves begin to turn from shades of green to a glorious spectrum of colors--reds, golds, yellows, oranges, purples and browns. The Lord promised that, as long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter will not cease (Genesis 8:22); every year, He is faithful to keep His Word. And as this cycle is repeated, the Gospel of His Son is preached.
The awesome colors of the autumn leaves are brought by the death of the leaves. Every year, the chlorophyll which gives the leaves both their vitality and their verdure, begins to break down. The leaves slowly die, turning the kaleidoscope as they do, and fall to the ground. The trees are as barren as graves all winter. If this were the end, it would be tragic--but of course it is not. Next spring, the trees have renewed strength from their winter sleep. Last autumn’s leaves have covered the ground, insulating it against winter, and have decayed, giving their nutrients back into the ground. Death gives way to life. The trees preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He gave up His life (John 10:11-18). He suffered and died--on a tree--and was buried; after three days, He rose to life again (Acts 10:39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). And from His death, we all live (Romans 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22). Death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). May the beauty of the autumn leaves remind us of the faithfulness of the Lord, and the beauty of Christ. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy Before the Lord, for he comes, For he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in his faithfulness. --Psalm 96:12-13 |
