October 2021
Seasons Change, But God Never Does
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (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 yet . Fall Fun Fest doesn’t start for a half hour. Why go so early?” he answered.
“Even Dad says start time is late. I want to get there 15 minutes early, but you’re not helping.”
“I’m coming,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. Soon they were driving through town, passing hundreds of trees decked out in red, gold and orange.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Autumn exclaimed. “I’ll miss the pretty leaves. I wish it could be fall all the time.”
“Not me,” Dillon commented. “I want to swim all summer and sled all winter. Football and hunting season is in fall, but I don’t want to miss baseball either. Besides, you said the same thing about spring when flowers bloomed.”
“You’re right!” Autumn said with a smile. “I forgot how much I love spring. I love when trees start budding and the weather warms up. I like swimming and biking in the summer, too. And I LOVE to go ice skating, so I guess winter is not so bad either.”
“You just want everybody to be excited about your birthday,” grumbled Dillon.
“Well....” Autumn admitted with a grin, “that is one of the best days of the year, when you got the best sister you ever had!”
“What’s your favorite season, Mom?” asked Dillon.
“Let’s see. I love Christmas with baking, decorating and giving gifts to those we love. I also love flowers in springtime and warm weather. Fall is beautiful, like Autumn said, and I get out my favorite sweaters and curl up by the fire with a good book... But I look forward to summer and family vacation and a break from the school year. Maybe they are all my favorite! God made all the seasons, so they must all be important.”
“Hmmm...” Autumn wondered aloud. “I never thought about that. He must have some pretty good reasons, right?” When they arrived everybody grabbed their things and headed to their responsibilities. Fall Fun Fest was going to be an exciting day.
Dillon had signed up for the fishing pond and put worms on hooks for little kids. He would also take a turn at the dunking tank, so he had extra clothes. Mom was working in nursery first, then helping with lunch. Autumn was going to run the Ring Toss game, and help in the Country Store. She ran toward the Ring Toss game, calling out to Dillon, “See! I told you we were late!”
The booths got busy, and the afternoon flew by. Before long, games were winding down, and everyone headed to the church auditorium for a devotion from Pastor Newman. Autumn thought what a fun day it had been, 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 we had it year-round. But we’re always enjoying one season while looking forward to another. There is a constant cycle of seasons God’s master design, and that’s a blessing.”
“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.’ So it’s right to preach the God’s Word all the time, in every season. It’s never the wrong time. That means that sharing the Gospel is a year-round endeavor, no matter what kind of weather we have. Jesus said, ‘...Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ That Gospel message is the Good News that God’s Son, Jesus, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again victorious over death and the grave, so we could receive the gift of eternal life. God’s plan of salvation is unchanging, just like Him.”
“Some things in life are seasonal, and change like the seasons. If I stood here with a lavender Easter egg, a red and green Christmas stocking, a heart-shaped pink Valentine, and a red-white-and-blue Fourth of July banner, you might say, ‘I wonder if Pastor is confused? Doesn’t he know it’s time for orange pumpkins?’ We think of those things as being seasonal.”
“Yet the same God Who made this world with changing seasons, after the judgment of the flood in Noah’s day, 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 can know for sure that we will have day and night, spring, summer, fall and winter as long as we are on earth. He promised that will not change ‘while the earth remaineth.’ So we never have to question whether Winter will come after Fall, or if Summer will never start. God set the cycle of the seasons and promised they would remain the same. It’s good to know we can trust 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 changes, 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 glad I can tell you that God’s love for us won’t 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 that 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 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 God already paid for and offers to you, you can have your sins washed away; He even promised to make you His 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, and will sup with him, and he with me.’”
“And the only opportunity you can be sure you have to open the door is right now. That’s the best time or anyone to say yes to Jesus. ‘(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ (II Corinthians 6:2)” Today is the best opportunity to ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart. Won’t you bow your head and do that 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.
“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (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 yet . Fall Fun Fest doesn’t start for a half hour. Why go so early?” he answered.
“Even Dad says start time is late. I want to get there 15 minutes early, but you’re not helping.”
“I’m coming,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. Soon they were driving through town, passing hundreds of trees decked out in red, gold and orange.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Autumn exclaimed. “I’ll miss the pretty leaves. I wish it could be fall all the time.”
“Not me,” Dillon commented. “I want to swim all summer and sled all winter. Football and hunting season is in fall, but I don’t want to miss baseball either. Besides, you said the same thing about spring when flowers bloomed.”
“You’re right!” Autumn said with a smile. “I forgot how much I love spring. I love when trees start budding and the weather warms up. I like swimming and biking in the summer, too. And I LOVE to go ice skating, so I guess winter is not so bad either.”
“You just want everybody to be excited about your birthday,” grumbled Dillon.
“Well....” Autumn admitted with a grin, “that is one of the best days of the year, when you got the best sister you ever had!”
“What’s your favorite season, Mom?” asked Dillon.
“Let’s see. I love Christmas with baking, decorating and giving gifts to those we love. I also love flowers in springtime and warm weather. Fall is beautiful, like Autumn said, and I get out my favorite sweaters and curl up by the fire with a good book... But I look forward to summer and family vacation and a break from the school year. Maybe they are all my favorite! God made all the seasons, so they must all be important.”
“Hmmm...” Autumn wondered aloud. “I never thought about that. He must have some pretty good reasons, right?” When they arrived everybody grabbed their things and headed to their responsibilities. Fall Fun Fest was going to be an exciting day.
Dillon had signed up for the fishing pond and put worms on hooks for little kids. He would also take a turn at the dunking tank, so he had extra clothes. Mom was working in nursery first, then helping with lunch. Autumn was going to run the Ring Toss game, and help in the Country Store. She ran toward the Ring Toss game, calling out to Dillon, “See! I told you we were late!”
The booths got busy, and the afternoon flew by. Before long, games were winding down, and everyone headed to the church auditorium for a devotion from Pastor Newman. Autumn thought what a fun day it had been, 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 we had it year-round. But we’re always enjoying one season while looking forward to another. There is a constant cycle of seasons God’s master design, and that’s a blessing.”
“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.’ So it’s right to preach the God’s Word all the time, in every season. It’s never the wrong time. That means that sharing the Gospel is a year-round endeavor, no matter what kind of weather we have. Jesus said, ‘...Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ That Gospel message is the Good News that God’s Son, Jesus, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again victorious over death and the grave, so we could receive the gift of eternal life. God’s plan of salvation is unchanging, just like Him.”
“Some things in life are seasonal, and change like the seasons. If I stood here with a lavender Easter egg, a red and green Christmas stocking, a heart-shaped pink Valentine, and a red-white-and-blue Fourth of July banner, you might say, ‘I wonder if Pastor is confused? Doesn’t he know it’s time for orange pumpkins?’ We think of those things as being seasonal.”
“Yet the same God Who made this world with changing seasons, after the judgment of the flood in Noah’s day, 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 can know for sure that we will have day and night, spring, summer, fall and winter as long as we are on earth. He promised that will not change ‘while the earth remaineth.’ So we never have to question whether Winter will come after Fall, or if Summer will never start. God set the cycle of the seasons and promised they would remain the same. It’s good to know we can trust 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 changes, 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 glad I can tell you that God’s love for us won’t 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 that 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 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 God already paid for and offers to you, you can have your sins washed away; He even promised to make you His 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, and will sup with him, and he with me.’”
“And the only opportunity you can be sure you have to open the door is right now. That’s the best time or anyone to say yes to Jesus. ‘(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ (II Corinthians 6:2)” Today is the best opportunity to ask the Lord Jesus to come into your heart. Won’t you bow your head and do that 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.
