SPRING / FALL

Spring/Fall

I am still waiting for winter to arrive in sunny Queensland since moving there from Manitoba many decades ago! Unlike my previous observations as a youth in Strathclyde and, following that, as an adult in Ontario, where spring and fall are distinct and beautiful seasons, “endless summer” aptly describes Brisbane’s subtropical weather. The seasonal changes may be subtle in Queensland, but God’s Word says, “To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2.

It’s a wonderful thing to know that as the northern hemisphere shifts into fall, the southern hemisphere moves into spring. One lot are planting while at the same time the other lot are plucking up what has been planted. And so goes the cycle of spring and fall, being born and dying. But, what does it all mean? What’s the bigger picture?

You can talk about the earth shifting poses to get an even tan as it suns itself. Or the moon waxing to show off at the beach. Or you could spread rumours about the romance El Niño and La Niña are having on their ocean cruise. However, whether it’s the study of astronomy, geophysics, meteorology, ocean motion or whatever, for ultimate sense to made of anything, it all must pass through the Great Designer, the Mediator, the go between, the Man Jesus Christ. ‘Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so’ Genesis 1:14-15. ‘For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him' Colossians 1:16. Hence, it is the height of arrogance to ignore Christ in any equation, including discussing the weather! For, “All things were created through Him and for Him.” Period! Therefore, let us look unto Jesus.

Spring? “For he shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground” Isaiah 53:2. And, “But when the fulness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” Galatians 4:4. Thus, Christ gives spring its true meaning. God planted Him firmly on this earth. And what about fall? ‘Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree’ 1 Peter 2:24. Like a leaf on a tree in the fall becomes dry and shrivelled, so Christ on His cross, ‘My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death’ Psalm 22:15.Then they planted Him in the ground. ‘And they made His grave with the wicked’ Isaiah 53:9a. Spring and fall. ‘A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted.’

The good news? ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain’ John 12:24. Jesus lived, died and was buried in the ground. But He rose again. He is producing much grain, even all believers.

In Christ there is endless summer. For He is the Light of the world. The Sun of Righteousness has arisen with healing in His wings.