Fall Colors and Growth

October is the month of color—beautiful color, brilliant color, dazzling color—color that we see in the leaves of the trees as the trees prepare themselves for the dormancy of winter.  One color which is often overlooked in the fall is green – although it can be seen year-round in evergreen trees.  God is a God of beauty and He delights in making all things beautiful.  As fall progresses we will see red, yellow, brown, and orange leaves on trees - but God is also interested in green.  I’m reminded of Scripture where the psalmist said, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house if the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green” (Psalm 92:12-14).

Let’s examine a few aspects of these verses. 

1)      “The righteous.”   These are all people who have had a heart transformation by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  It is hard to realize that you and I can be righteous because the Bible tells us that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23).  However, the Bible also tells us that “God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (II Corinthians 5:21).

2)      “Flourish like a palm tree … grow like a cedar of Lebanon … flourish in the courts of our God.”  To “flourish” is to bloom, to break out, to spring up, and to spread or grow.  The righteous are not only durable like these trees, but they provide protection for the weary, they can stand tall and strong, they are majestic in their beauty, and they can still grow.

3)      “Still bear fruit in old age.”  Bearing fruit means being vibrant, active, energetic, and effective.  Notice, the righteous can still bear fruit – even those righteous who are elderly.  So, everyone can be productive—no matter what their age. 

4)      “Stay fresh and green.”  Something that is fresh is clean.  It is also new, vibrant, and vital.  To be fresh and green suggests an active lifestyle full of resilience and fruitfulness – even to the very end of life.

The green of summer will soon fade, but growth has not concluded.  Everyone can be bright and active for the Lord at any stage of life.  So, as you view the beauty of the fall colors this year—remember God wants to help you grow and be vibrant for Him.

What in the World are You Doing?

As a child I occasionally got into trouble (well, that did happen more than I want to admit), but one time I remember my father saying to me, “What in the world are you doing?”  Of course, I had to fess up to the predicament in which I found myself and receive the consequences of my action.  As I think back to that question, I believe it is a good question for all of us to think about – not because we have been in trouble, but because we need to think about our existence.  What in the world am I doing?  Why has God allowed me to live in this Century?  What does God want to accomplish through me?  When the Apostle Paul made a defense before King Agrippa, he rehearsed his experience of getting to know God personally.  Here is what the Lord said to him, “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:17-18).

 Notice several specifics about these verses:

 1)      Sending Agent.  “I am sending you.”  God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, has a task to accomplish and He works through people to get His work done.

2)      Specific Mission.  “To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light.”  God’s purpose is that people will turn from the darkness of sin to the brightness of eternal life in Christ.

3)      Sustaining Power. “From the power of Satan to God.” It is God’s divine power (not Satan’s power) that is at work through individuals so His purpose can be fulfilled.

4)      Systematic Cleansing.   “They may receive forgiveness of sins.” God wants people to be spiritually clean by having their sins forgiven and that comes only because of Christ’s death on the cross.

5)      Sacred Confidence.  “A place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Through faith in God, a person has confident assurance that God has done a new work in his or her life.

If you read the rest of the book of Acts and the Epistles that the Apostle Paul wrote you will find him doing the things that this verse suggests.  It seems to me that this is the same activity that all people who call themselves Christians should be doing.  We should share the Gospel with people so their eyes can be opened to the Savior, so they can turn from the darkness of sin to God’s wonderful light, so they can receive forgiveness of sin, and so they can be sanctified through faith in Christ.

So, the question remains for all of us: “What in the world am I doing?”  What are you doing personally?  What are you doing familywise?  What are you doing in your community?  I trust that your answer and action to these questions are the same as that of the Apostle Paul.