The season of summer brings in the warmth to life. In this season, we get married, fulfilling God’s plan, that of procreating and multiplying the earth. In a constant move of responsibilities, achieving life’s goals of parenthood, we reach out to our offsprings to prepare them for their future. The heat of summer awakes in us the desire to accomplish all that comes for us to do. In a normal family setting, this season shines the progress of our efforts. Life is beautiful in the summer season. Love flows, filling us with vigor and strength. Nothing seems impossible to reach success. In our forties -the “young of the old” is a good age before menopause arrives with a vengeance as our body go through changes and the crisis of middle age surfaces, signaling the season of fall: Gray and the thinning of hair, hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, changes in mood, difficulty sleeping, etc., This is the season to reflect on the days ahead.
As the fall season brings about winter’s uncertainties, this season in real life does it to us, too. Autumn leaves, in many varieties of colors, fall to the ground as they die a slow death, announcing the season of winter. But the fall season is still comfortable. It’s the season when we reach the peak of success in many aspects of life. Not yet old, we pursue life with remaining strength. This is a beautiful season in one’s life to consider, for that’s the time when wisdom and understanding take us to the level of happiness and contentment. Retirement, the next chapter in this season, brings about the fulfillment of our dreams of young days. Some of us take the time to see the world without worries; others are happy just by staying home with their grandchildren without the finance worries. The Bible says, “For everything there is a season.” (Eccle. 3:1) Our life is in God’s time frame. While we continue on our journey, there is much to learn for our spiritual growth. One is to trust God and lean on Him, who has determined our future from the time we were being created.
Arriving at the winter season, life is no longer what we experienced earlier, for we entered a season of challenges; it’s a thing we must maintain with regular doctor’s visits. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, fragile bones, wheel chairs, canes, forgetfulness, depression and the list grows with time. It’s the time when we reflect on the past, remembering the “good old days.” It’s the time when we have no contentment in life, as Solomon so expressed, when he told us to remember the Creator while in our youth (Eccle. 12). The winter season is the last life’s season before we depart from this world to eternity. Meanwhile, our friends, one by one, are taken away, leaving us wondering if we are next. The loneliness that fills our mind leaves with a vacuum life cannot fill. Our children alienate us from them by taking us to a nursing home, where we all find ourselves empty of the warmth only family can give; no longer can we hear noises of life expressed in the crying of a baby, or of children playing; only the mourning and groaning of joint pains as we stumble and fall. And hunched down, we look at each other, as asking the question, where did the time go? One can never understand this season, only when faced with it; one can never prepare for this season for the surprises it brings. David prayed saying, “Cast me not at time of old age; forsake me not when my strength fails; even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not.” (Ps. 71:9,18). We can make this our prayer too.
In whatever season you find yourself to be today, remember, our God is the God of the Bible. He will never forsake those who are His. As a matter of fact, He is closer to us in our trials. In conclusion, “be strong in the Lord; [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him” (Eph. 6:10); for “He will guard him and keep him in constant peace whose mind is stayed on God, because he commits himself to Him; so, trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock.” (Isa. 26:3,4). Faithfull is He Who promised to be with us to the end and He will do it. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23a). “Let’s run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away to YAHSHUA, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith and is also its Finisher. He, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2). Life of those who knows YAHSHUA as Lord and Savior will have a beautiful end. It will continue in heaven at our last breath. The psalmist says, “As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness; I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [ to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].” (Ps. 17:15).
Light from the Word 