There are many lessons in the colorful leaves of the fall. One is the consideration that we were designed for change. As I sat this morning in the warmth of the autumn sun and looked to the trees nearby, I stared at a tree with leaves of brilliant rust / red color. It occurred to me that those leaves looked as if they were painted red. But then I realized that the color which appears to be permanent is really very temporary...far shorter in life than the green leaves that preceded the red ones. The leaves which now are red will dry and fall within a few days, and, of course the cycle will continue into winter and new leaves in the spring. I suppose one of the reasons we enjoy paintings of the fall foliage is that they preserve these gorgeous colors and bring back the fleeting time of bright color to our mind. The hand behind the scenes that paints the leaves is the hand of God and He is painting us with changing colors as well. I was remarking to a senior friend recently that just as the trees show brilliant color to celebrate the long season of life they have completed, so we also have changing colors that celebrate our long life season. But instead of glowing in brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds, we move to shades of gray, with paler skin. While our outward appearance appears to fade as we pass the physical peak, the inner person glows brighter as the joy of the Lord's peace and of life's blessings crown us and cause us to look to eternity's future with Hope.
Ezekiel 47:12 "But the river itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won't wither, the fruit won't fail. Every month they'll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."
blessings,
Rob Smith
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