Colors of fall

We are in the middle of autumn here in the Swan Valley. The leaf trees are just getting past their peak color and the larch needles are just starting to turn yellow.

Thinking about the process of leaves (and needles) changing colors, it is a bit ironic that the process that brings out the beauty, is also the one that leads to their ultimate demise. The color change happens as the life-giving green chlorophyll breaks down and disappears. This reveals other often brilliant colors that are in the leaves as well. However, inevitably, the leaves fall off and eventually decay.

The analogy is not a perfect one but this reminds me of our spiritual lives. People without the life-giver (Jesus) may have a situation that looks attractive for a while but ultimately leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus says “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”

These are sobering words. However, the Bible is quite clear in what the way is. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way and truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

This is one of those things that often doesn’t seem right to a man. But I would also say the more one reads and understands the gospel message, we can be glad that salvation isn’t something we need to earn of our own doing. Jesus is the way because he paid our penalty for sin for us, but we need to come to a place where we believe that Jesus is Lord and follow God’s commands (not to earn our salvation but because we believe Jesus is Lord). Though few find the narrow gate, Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

As we enjoy the beauty of the fall colors around us, perhaps we can also be reminded that the beauty will come to an end because there is no longer life-giving chlorophyll in them and that we too need the life-giving power that comes from Jesus Christ.