I love it when fall is in the air. For the most part, the heat of summer is gone. Still, you may never know here in Nebraska when a few stray hot days may come along in the early part of autumn. That is why we like to go to the mountains of Colorado in those early days of fall. The weather is cooler and the aspens and other foliage are popping with bright yellows and oranges.
When I looked at the bright colors of fall I could not help but wonder why God created these leaves to be so brilliant and beautiful right before they die. They are beautiful all summer in the prime of their existence, harvesting light to make food through photosynthesis, but yet their summer beauty does not compare to their fall beauty that comes bursting forth just as they are about to die. I know the scientific reason for this, but why did God design it this way?
Although, I don’t believe we can develop solid doctrine from observing nature I do believe God teaches us things through His creation and as I pondered these thoughts God revealed to my heart that death in nature is a way to new life. When something dies in nature something else attains life from it. Just as with Christ’s death, those who follow Him will get life from His death. In a way, when he hung on a tree (sometimes the cross is referred to as a tree as in Acts 5:39) he was like a leaf shining as a light for all mankind before dying.
For the follower of Christ, death is the way to glory. It is not something to be feared. For those of us who trust in Christ, the time of death is a time of our greatest glory, just as these leaves have their moment of their greatest glory at the time of their death.
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” and those that trust in Him and only in Him for the forgiveness of their sins have nothing to fear in death. For those who whole heartily follow Christ, death is their way to glory.
