
Autumn Leaves…
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:21-22)
AUTUMN WILL BE WITH US IN A FEW DAYS. The seasons that occur as regular as clockwork are part of God’s testimony that it is He that hath made us not we ourselves. It is the Book of Genesis that tells us that He oversees the seasons and the cold and heat, and summer and winter. If the ice caps melt, it will be because God does it and not because of diesel engines. Is Genesis reliable?
IF GENESIS IS NOT RELIABLE, THE REST OF THE BIBLE IS IRRELEVANT. Notice the text says: “while the earth remaineth.” The earth as we know it is not eternal. It will one day burn up and nothing living will survive the fire. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2Peter 3:12-14) There will be a new earth and a new heaven (space and atmosphere) around it. The New Jerusalem will come down and the earth will again be inhabited.
MEANTIME, WE LIVE ON THIS PLANET WE CALL: EARTH. It is beautiful but crippled with the curse of God upon it because sin has entered it. Nevertheless, God has displayed His glory in the awesome variety of living things that inhabit the earth. We humans are part of that array. This human is ready for Autumn, following the wonderful summer we have had.
WHEN I WAS SIX, THERE WAS A COMMUNITY PROVERB that when the hogs start carrying cobs, it’s going to rain. We got it wrong. It was the sow that was carrying all the cobs and she was about to have a litter of pigs. She was carrying cobs to make a nice bed for her babies. This nest building is extremely strong in pregnant sows. Even if she is inside a building and doesn’t need to build a nest --- she NEEDS to build a nest. She has to pursue it until she is satisfied that it is finished. Only then can she rest and be satisfied.
GOD BUILDS THIS STRONG INSTINCT INTO HOGS. Birds have a strong instinct to build their nests and it must be the design that each type of bird builds. Human beings also are endowed with drives that influence our behavior. But, we are fallen creatures and some of our urges drive us into opposition to God and His perfect will for us. We need variety and change in our lives. The four seasons are a great part of change that we need.
LIVING IN THE COUNTRY ENABLES YOU TO SEE AND HEAR MORE STUFF GOING ON. When God puts on a show in the Spring, the flowers keep tract of their time to bloom. We don’t have to go around waking up the flowers. The trees begin to bloom, and the honey bees begin extracting honey. Pairs of wild geese collect with other geese and they all head north for the summer.
HUMMINGBIRDS ARE AMAZING. One Spring we were a little late getting our Humming- bird feeder up. We were sitting in the swing on the front porch and one of our returning birds flew right up to us, within 2-3 feet and began to tweet at us. As if to say: “Hey, I’m back! Why isn’t my feeder hanging up and ready? I’m hungry!” Well, there was nothing to do but get that feeder up right away!
THE BEARS GET UP, "HUNGRY AS A BEAR" and begin foraging for food. It is astounding what the change of seasons does to plant life and animal life…and human beings. We’ve had enough darker days to make us grumpier than usual and ready for outside, and sunshine!
LEAVES FILL OUT AND THE FRESH GREEN IS INVIGORATING! It stays that way for a couple of months while the rains come every two or three days. Gardens and fields grow up and gives us all the fresh vegetables and fruits we can imagine! It dawned on me one day that God not only gave strawberries a distinctive taste but put something in our tongues that matches the taste of what He put in the strawberry. Cool!
GO THROUGH ALL THE FRUITS WITH THEIR DIFFERENT TASTES AND TEXTURES and then the vegetables and the several kinds of grains. Everything doesn’t taste like oatmeal. All the fruits and vegetables don’t mature the same week. How would we harvest it and put it away for the winter if it all came in the same week? Cornbread! There’s no substitute for cornbread. Maybe I got hooked on it during the Depression when we ate it so many ways. I can’t go without cornbread many days without the strong craving for it….with or without buttermilk. I must say that our God knows a lot about making things and knows a lot about making tongues to crave the things He has made. It is awesome!
THE SUMMER, THEN, TAKES ITS TOLL AND WE'RE READY for a change of seasons. I think it has hit me a little earlier this year. I’m not ready for cold weather but I am ready for autumn leaves. Do you ever have a yearning to hear leaves rattling under your feet and long to smell the fragrance of autumn leaves? And maybe, a hunger to smell wood smoke from a chimney that’s knocking off the morning chill? Not a sound of an engine unless it’s in the distance.
I’M A LITTLE EARLY, BUT WHAT HAS COME MY WAY IS PART OF GOD'S DESIGN that operates in all His creation that society calls: “nature.” The humming birds will be going south soon. The clacking, quaking flocks of wild geese will head south. If you have a pond, they may stop off and visit with you for water and may rest a day or two.
SO, NOT ONLY DO THE BLACKBERRIES KNOW WHEN TO BLOOM, but birds and butterflies migrate back and forth with the seasons. They know when it’s time to pack their suitcases and head north or south. I read somewhere that in an area up north where a good number of bears had been tagged with little radio transmitters, the bears all went to bed within a 3-5 day period and came out of their hibernation the same way.
I’LL BE GLAD WHEN AUTUMN GETS HERE. I’ll be glad when Winter sets in. I’ll be glad when Spring gets here. I’ll be glad when Summer finally gets here. We humans need a variety of seasons. God made us that way. Autumn 2018 is: September 22 – December 21.
SO, IF YOU'RE WORRIED THAT MAKING ENERGY FOR TRAVEL AND INDUSTRY and heating our homes is going to melt the ice caps, you might want to meditate on our text for today. It amuses me that the news media tells us extremely cold winter weather is caused by global warming. Study this carefully:
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:21-22)
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BURN UP THE EARTH BY BUILDING A FIRE TO COOK OUR TATERS. Before the crops can be harvested, they must have a growing season. It’s going to be cold and it’s going to be hot. God is still in charge of planet earth. Either you believe the Word of God by faith or you believe the climate alarmists by faith. I believe God.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH GENESIS, the New Testament tells us: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:18-20)
IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF GOD and go against Him like Satan and his angels, it is going to cost you dearly. God loves you and sent His Son to die on the cross in your place. He will forgive you of all your sins if you will repent, turn away from your sins, and receive His Son as your Lord and Savior. You will not be alive on earth very long. But you will be alive in Heaven or Hell forever without end. Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
SEPTEMBER 4, 2018 – TUESDAY
A.M. Proverbs 5-6 P.M. 1Corinthians 14:1-20
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
A Good Verse to Memorize:
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)
Song for Today:
On Zion’s Hill (3:27) (Male Quartet – A Cappella)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwOSWwJptAM
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.