Genesis 8:22
The Changing of the Seasons
God's promise of seasonal consistency reflects his faithful heart and offers us stability and assurance. Like the turning seasons, our walk with God requires consistent commitment to the one whose promises never fail.
The Changing of the Seasons
The changing of the seasons is met with both acceptance and regret. We regret the passing of the season before and we accept that another season has begun. Most of us like one season over the others. Paul mentioned last Sunday that he really enjoys this time of the year and there are others who would join him. Some regret seeing the summer season leave because it is their favorite. My favorite season is approaching. The consistency of the seasons is part of what allows us to have a preference. It is hard for us to imagine the seasons coming in any different order or to imagine that the seasons would shorten or lengthen. We know that there are parts of our world that emphasizes one season over the others. Tropical areas have less seasonal change as do cold climate areas. Here in Memphis we have four distinct seasons and most of us appreciate something about each season.
Fall’s Beauty
Fall has its own beauty. Harvest comes. Bounty exists in fruits and vegetables. Leaves change into brilliant colors which capture our imagination and makes us aware of the color palette in God’s mind. Crisp mornings and sunlit days make us appreciate the warmth of shelter and the ability of our sun to feel warm. The absence of heat, humidity, and pollution allow us to see a blue sky unequal throughout the year and to see with greater clarity the billions of stars that shine in our universe. There is something special about fall.
God’s Promise in the Seasons
What we may not understand is that the seasons are part of God’s promises to us. In Genesis 8:22 after the flooding of the earth because of the sin of all humanity, God makes a promise to Noah and his descendants: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.” The seasons reflect the heart of God. God wants us to live with a certain sense of stability. His promise is that he will never stop the cycle of life. His promise leads to our certainty.
Our sin does not interrupt God’s promises. This promise is given to all—those who believe and those who do not. God’s kindness is not based on how well we do. We slide into a new season with both acceptance and regret, but we can also move into each season with confidence and assurance. God’s promise will never fail. We may fail him but his promise will and always has been true. So we celebrate God and his promises.
We also are reminded that just as with the changing of the seasons, there is to be consistency as we walk with God. Not perfection, but consistent commitment to the one whose promise is still and will continue as long as the earth stands. Praise to him.
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