October 2022

My childhood autumns in Indiana hold precious memories—unpacking warmer
clothing, hot cocoa, harvest moons, fires in the hearth, a well-stocked pantry, and
best of all—FOOTBALL! I loved it.
The autumn of life is a strange mixture of nostalgia, blessings, and potential. It yields
the harvest of seeds we’ve sown throughout life and braces us for colder days to
come.
When life’s autumn arrives, we look back and better understand the way God led us;
but we still have work to do—the best and fullest. It’s a good transition time.
“Autumn” only occurs once in the Bible. In Jude 1:12, false teachers are compared to
“autumn trees without fruit,” implying that autumn should be a fruitful season, the
most abundant of the year. How can we take advantage of the “autumn of life”?
The Unchanging Nature of God
The seasons come and go, so focus on the God who remains unchanged and unchanging. “LORD, You have
been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had
formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:1-2).
There’s a lot of unwelcome change in our world. Moral and societal changes bother us most when we turn
on our television or glance at the magazines. We’re painfully aware our kids are growing up in a world far
different from the one we knew as children.
And personal changes—children leaving home, the passing of dear friends, and the slow, steady decline in
our vitality and health. But amid all the changes, one thing, one person, never changes—our eternal God.
J. I. Packer points out that God does not change. His life is always the same. His character is always
dependable. His truth, ways, and purposes do not change. His Son does not change. He’s the same
yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
His children will enjoy His fellowship a million years from now. The world may fade, the stars may fall, the
seasons may change, and winter may come. But the God who has been our help in ages past is our hope
for years to come. In Him we have permanence, stability, joy unshakable, and life unending.
The Wonderful Blessings of God
The autumn of life is a great time to focus on God’s wonderful blessings—family, friends, strength, shelter,
provision, guidance, care, fruitful ministry, opportunities to serve, more time to pray and study His Word,
and eternal life still to come.
During life’s autumn, we have a richer perspective and can count more blessings than ever before.
A Renewed Commitment to God
Autumn is a good time to focus on your commitment to God. Some of the saddest words in the
Bible are in Jeremiah 8:20, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” If
you’ve never made a commitment to Jesus Christ, do it now, while there is still time.
If you are a follower of Christ, remember to remain close to Him during the shifting
seasons of life.
During autumn, we all know that winter lies ahead, but if winter comes, can
spring be far behind?
Pastor J.R.