Seasons Change, But God Never Does
“For I am the LORD, I change not;...” (Malachi 3:6)
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“Dillon! You’re making us late again!” Autumn shouted up the staircase.
“We’re not late!” Dillon answered. “Fall Fun Fest doesn’t start for a half hour. Why do you always have to go so early?”
“Even Dad says that to come right on time is really to be late. I like to get there 15 minutes early, but you’re not helping.”
Dillon rolled his eyes with a sigh. “I’m coming.” Sisters were girls, and hard to understand! Downstairs, Autumn was thinking that brothers are boys, and boys can be difficult!
Soon they were driving through their little town, and passed hundreds of trees decked out in glorious fall colors, red, gold, orange, brown. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Autumn breathed in awe. “I will miss the colored leaves, they are falling off so fast. Fall is my favorite. I wish it could be fall all the time.”
“Not me,” Dillon quickly commented. “I want to go swimming all summer and sled riding all winter. I like football and hunting in the fall, and I like baseball in the spring. Besides, you said the same thing about spring when your flowers bloomed.”
“You’re right!” Autumn said with a smile. “I forgot how excited I was when the trees started budding and the weather warmed up. I enjoy swimming and bike riding in the summer, too. I hate to be cold, but I LOVE to go ice skating, so I guess winter’s not so bad either.”
“You just want everybody excited about your birthday in the fall,” grumbled Dillon.
“Well....” Autumn admitted with a grin, “that is one of the best days of the year, don’t you think? That’s when you got the best sister you ever had!”
“You should celebrate summer when you got your favorite brother. What’s your favorite season, Mom?” asked Dillon.
“Let’s see. You know I love Christmas time, baking, decorating and giving gifts to the people we love. But I also love flowers in springtime and warm weather when I can put my coat away. Fall is so beautiful, like Autumn said. I get out my favorite sweaters and curl up with a cup of tea and a good book... But then... I also look forward to summer for family vacation and a break from the school year. Oh, I don’t know! Maybe they are all my favorite! God made all the seasons, so they’re all good.”
“Hmmm...” Autumn wondered aloud. “God did make all the seasons, so He must have some pretty good reasons, right?”
When they pulled into the church parking lot, everybody grabbed their things and headed to their responsibilities. The church buses had gone out to bring in as many kids and parents and visitors as they could. It was going to be an exciting day.
Dillon had signed up to help at the fishing pond, and put worms on hooks for little kids. He would also take a turn at the dunking tank, so he brought some extra clothes. Mom was working in the nursery, and then she would help serve the hot dogs and cookies. Autumn volunteered to run the Ring Toss game, and help kids use their tickets in the Country Store to take home a prize. She ran in that direction, calling out to Dillon, “See! I told you we were late!”
All the game booths got busy right away, and the afternoon flew by. There was a water balloon toss, an old-fashioned sack race, and a fishing competition. Before they thought possible, things were winding down, and everyone headed into the church for a devotion from Pastor Newman.
Autumn’s mind drifted, thinking what a fun day it had been, but then the pastor’s words caught her attention. “What do you think of when you think of fall? Pumpkins? Colored leaves? Bonfires?”
“God made this beautiful world with changing seasons, and aren’t we glad? We might get tired of winter’s snow, or April showers, or the heat of summer if it lasted year-round. But we are always enjoying one season while looking forward to the next. The constant cycle of seasons and weather is part of God’s master design.”
“The Apostle Paul said to Timothy in II Timothy 4:2. ‘Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.’ We ought to preach God’s Word all the time, in season and out of season. It’s never the wrong time. Sharing the Gospel is a year-round endeavor, no matter what season or what kind of weather we have. Jesus said, ‘...Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ That Gospel Good News is that God’s Son, Jesus, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again, so we could receive the gift of eternal life. God’s plan of salvation is unchanging, just like Him.”
“Some things in life change or follow a cycle, like the seasons. If I stood here with a lavender Easter egg, and a red and green Christmas stocking, and a heart-shaped pink Valentine, you might say, ‘I wonder if Pastor Newman is confused? This is fall! Doesn’t he know it’s time for leaves and pumpkins?’ We think of those things as being seasonal, don’t we?”
“Yet the same God Who made this world with changing seasons, after the great flood in Noah’s day, He made this promise. “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22) Since God always keeps His promises, we know for sure that we will have day and night, spring, summer, fall and winter as long as we are on this earth. Even the changing seasons must stay the same! He promised that will not change ‘while the earth remaineth.’ So we never have to question whether Winter will come after Fall, or if Spring will refuse to be over and Summer never start. God set the cycle of the seasons and promised they would remain the same. Isn’t it good to know we can trust in God’s promises, and He never fails?”
“Our changing seasons were created by our Unchanging God. ‘For I am the LORD, I change not;...’ He said in Malachi 3:6. ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.’ we read in Hebrews 13:8. James 1:17 says there is no ‘variableness’ in God, which means nothing about God varies, He is always the same. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
“I am so glad I can tell you that God’s love for us is not going to change. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16) God loved us so much He was willing to let His Son suffer and die in our place to pay the price for our sins, and the invitation is open to ‘whosoever will’. ‘That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Romans 10:9,13)”
“God left the choice with you. You can choose to reject God’s gift, and pay the price of your sins yourself, but that will place you in the lake of fire for all eternity. ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Romans 6:23) ‘But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.’” (Revelation 21:8)
“If you are willing to accept the gift that God already paid for and offers to you, you can have your sins washed away. He even promised to make you His own child. ‘But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:’ (John 1:12) He said it is just as simple as opening the door to invite someone in. ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him...’”
“But the only opportunity you are sure you have to open the door to Christ is right now. ‘...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ (II Corinthians 6:2)”
Today is the best time there will ever be for you to ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart. Won’t you bow your head and trust Jesus right now?
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me and come into my heart and save me, just like you promised. I am trusting you to take me to Heaven when I die, and to help me live the rest of my life for you. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“Dillon! You’re making us late again!” Autumn shouted up the staircase.
“We’re not late!” Dillon answered. “Fall Fun Fest doesn’t start for a half hour. Why do you always have to go so early?”
“Even Dad says that to come right on time is really to be late. I like to get there 15 minutes early, but you’re not helping.”
Dillon rolled his eyes with a sigh. “I’m coming.” Sisters were girls, and hard to understand! Downstairs, Autumn was thinking that brothers are boys, and boys can be difficult!
Soon they were driving through their little town, and passed hundreds of trees decked out in glorious fall colors, red, gold, orange, brown. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Autumn breathed in awe. “I will miss the colored leaves, they are falling off so fast. Fall is my favorite. I wish it could be fall all the time.”
“Not me,” Dillon quickly commented. “I want to go swimming all summer and sled riding all winter. I like football and hunting in the fall, and I like baseball in the spring. Besides, you said the same thing about spring when your flowers bloomed.”
“You’re right!” Autumn said with a smile. “I forgot how excited I was when the trees started budding and the weather warmed up. I enjoy swimming and bike riding in the summer, too. I hate to be cold, but I LOVE to go ice skating, so I guess winter’s not so bad either.”
“You just want everybody excited about your birthday in the fall,” grumbled Dillon.
“Well....” Autumn admitted with a grin, “that is one of the best days of the year, don’t you think? That’s when you got the best sister you ever had!”
“You should celebrate summer when you got your favorite brother. What’s your favorite season, Mom?” asked Dillon.
“Let’s see. You know I love Christmas time, baking, decorating and giving gifts to the people we love. But I also love flowers in springtime and warm weather when I can put my coat away. Fall is so beautiful, like Autumn said. I get out my favorite sweaters and curl up with a cup of tea and a good book... But then... I also look forward to summer for family vacation and a break from the school year. Oh, I don’t know! Maybe they are all my favorite! God made all the seasons, so they’re all good.”
“Hmmm...” Autumn wondered aloud. “God did make all the seasons, so He must have some pretty good reasons, right?”
When they pulled into the church parking lot, everybody grabbed their things and headed to their responsibilities. The church buses had gone out to bring in as many kids and parents and visitors as they could. It was going to be an exciting day.
Dillon had signed up to help at the fishing pond, and put worms on hooks for little kids. He would also take a turn at the dunking tank, so he brought some extra clothes. Mom was working in the nursery, and then she would help serve the hot dogs and cookies. Autumn volunteered to run the Ring Toss game, and help kids use their tickets in the Country Store to take home a prize. She ran in that direction, calling out to Dillon, “See! I told you we were late!”
All the game booths got busy right away, and the afternoon flew by. There was a water balloon toss, an old-fashioned sack race, and a fishing competition. Before they thought possible, things were winding down, and everyone headed into the church for a devotion from Pastor Newman.
Autumn’s mind drifted, thinking what a fun day it had been, but then the pastor’s words caught her attention. “What do you think of when you think of fall? Pumpkins? Colored leaves? Bonfires?”
“God made this beautiful world with changing seasons, and aren’t we glad? We might get tired of winter’s snow, or April showers, or the heat of summer if it lasted year-round. But we are always enjoying one season while looking forward to the next. The constant cycle of seasons and weather is part of God’s master design.”
“The Apostle Paul said to Timothy in II Timothy 4:2. ‘Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.’ We ought to preach God’s Word all the time, in season and out of season. It’s never the wrong time. Sharing the Gospel is a year-round endeavor, no matter what season or what kind of weather we have. Jesus said, ‘...Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ That Gospel Good News is that God’s Son, Jesus, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again, so we could receive the gift of eternal life. God’s plan of salvation is unchanging, just like Him.”
“Some things in life change or follow a cycle, like the seasons. If I stood here with a lavender Easter egg, and a red and green Christmas stocking, and a heart-shaped pink Valentine, you might say, ‘I wonder if Pastor Newman is confused? This is fall! Doesn’t he know it’s time for leaves and pumpkins?’ We think of those things as being seasonal, don’t we?”
“Yet the same God Who made this world with changing seasons, after the great flood in Noah’s day, He made this promise. “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22) Since God always keeps His promises, we know for sure that we will have day and night, spring, summer, fall and winter as long as we are on this earth. Even the changing seasons must stay the same! He promised that will not change ‘while the earth remaineth.’ So we never have to question whether Winter will come after Fall, or if Spring will refuse to be over and Summer never start. God set the cycle of the seasons and promised they would remain the same. Isn’t it good to know we can trust in God’s promises, and He never fails?”
“Our changing seasons were created by our Unchanging God. ‘For I am the LORD, I change not;...’ He said in Malachi 3:6. ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.’ we read in Hebrews 13:8. James 1:17 says there is no ‘variableness’ in God, which means nothing about God varies, He is always the same. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
“I am so glad I can tell you that God’s love for us is not going to change. ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16) God loved us so much He was willing to let His Son suffer and die in our place to pay the price for our sins, and the invitation is open to ‘whosoever will’. ‘That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Romans 10:9,13)”
“God left the choice with you. You can choose to reject God’s gift, and pay the price of your sins yourself, but that will place you in the lake of fire for all eternity. ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Romans 6:23) ‘But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.’” (Revelation 21:8)
“If you are willing to accept the gift that God already paid for and offers to you, you can have your sins washed away. He even promised to make you His own child. ‘But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:’ (John 1:12) He said it is just as simple as opening the door to invite someone in. ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him...’”
“But the only opportunity you are sure you have to open the door to Christ is right now. ‘...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ (II Corinthians 6:2)”
Today is the best time there will ever be for you to ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart. Won’t you bow your head and trust Jesus right now?
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me and come into my heart and save me, just like you promised. I am trusting you to take me to Heaven when I die, and to help me live the rest of my life for you. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
