Many years ago Grandpa Jones wrote and sang a song entitled, “Falling Leaves.” Me and Grandpa are not related as far as I know, but I have always been a fan of his. Grandpa’s song “Fallen Leaves,” paints a picture of the passing of time and the cycle of life. This article is being published just a few days away from the official start of the first day of winter. A few leaves are still hanging on, but as the autumn leaves fall to the ground, they remind us of how fleeting our own lives can be. This encourages us to reflect on what truly lasts.
In 1 Peter 1:24-25, we are reminded that “all flesh is as grass” and “its flower falls away.” Just as the leaves in fall lose their color and drift away, our lives, too, will one day come to an end (Hebrews 9:27). We cannot stop the seasons of life from changing, nor can we prevent time from moving forward. The things of this world will perish and are temporary.
However, there is good news in verse 25:“But the word of the Lord endures forever.”the natural world cycles through seasons of life and death, God’s Word stands eternal. His promises never fail, and His love remains constant, no matter what season we are in. This is also found in Isaiah 40:8 which cements the point that we are to cling to God’s Word, Jesus’ sacrifice, and focus on our steps with Him!
As we reflect on the falling leaves of autumn, we are reminded not only of the beauty of life, but also the shortness of it. The falling leaves might seem like they’ve come to an end, but in God’s creation, His leaves have a purpose. They nourish the soil, preparing for new life in the spring just a few weeks of away; the cycle continues as long as God allows.
We are much like the leaves. We enjoy a birth, growth, maturity, and then we fade. But, we must remember that we will come to an end, but we have hope, a promise from God, and trust in His Word we can endure this life and hold on so we live eternally with Him and the ones we have lost for a little while.
We may stumble and we may fade at times, but may we never forget our purpose and what we are holding on to tightly, His Word because of His Son. Let’s enjoy the remaining days of autumn, but continue to be renewed by the love of God.
