Seasonal changes in middle latitudes are periodic and filled with variety. We are observing the arrival of Autumn in the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern US. It is my 70th year on earth, and I remember some of the same seasonal changes when I was less than a decade old. The light pea-greens in the trees and the color of delicate flowers of early Spring lead to mature summer foliage. Late August and early September mark the arrival of different flowers, foliage to seed, and the arrival of colors in deciduous forests. The growing season is ending in much of the northern hemisphere.
The autumn flowers smell different than those of Spring and present an array of gold, white, blue, and purple in fields and roadsides near cabin in the mountains. My wife takes delight in finding their names and characteristics. Animal and insect activity changes with cooler temperatures and shorter days. The squirrels are harvesting nuts and seeds; the deer are restless; fawns have lost their spots. Racoons raid the corn fields. We never get tired of seeing the changes.
The regularity of the seasons are by design by the Creator. He describes the days of creation very briefly in Genesis 1. Genesis 2 concentrates on the scene around the creation of Adam, Eve, and their God-defined relationship. However, things went wrong with the entrance of sin and death (Genesis 3). Corruption saturated succeeding generations that culminated in the Genesis Flood (Genesis 6-8). The earth still shows evidence of that event that changed the earth’s surface. The evidence of fossils, huge canyons, massive uplifts, and lines of volcanism can be found in many places. Sedimentary rock now covers over two thirds of the earth surface. Geologic remnants of the single ice age, which covered about a third of the land mass, remains detectable. The ‘flood’ chapters of Genesis are not myths; they are true, accurate, and are God’s deliberate communication to us for what and why it happened.
After Noah left the Ark after the worldwide flood, he made an offering to God. God responded by saying that the seasons would not cease. ‘Seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter would endure as long as the earth remains’ (Genesis 8:22). He was also specific about mankind: it was a mess and it extends from our hearts. You can read the words in Genesis 1:21, or you can find similar references in other books of the Bible about our general state. Why did all this happen? Because we sin. At its fundamental level, it means we do whatever we want without God. It leads to many kinds of troubles, and why Jesus came to save us. Today, this is a very unpopular truth.
So, as I meander down the country road and see the autumn blossoms, I am reminded of His mercy. He awaits those who will still choose to call on Him. He awaits believers to share their testimony about His love and salvation. His mercy and love are extended by stating He will not destroy all living things by water again. So, until He returns, He waits for those who will reach out to Him (Acts 17:27). This biblical worldview is unlike the naturalistic worldview, where there is a belief, which is often taught as fact to children, that everything gets better and more advanced on its own, which includes us. We are not getting better. In fact, we and the rest of creation are winding down (Hebrews 1:11, Psalm 102:25-27, Isaiah 51:16). it is biblical truth before the laws of thermodynamics were codified that say the same thing.
In the meantime, creation around us speaks loudly. It’s complexity, beauty, and vastness are blatantly obvious, whether we look around us or at the heavens. As we traveled across the US through 20 states late this summer, we observed farmers diligently pulling in hay, corn, wheat, beans, and a variety of other crops from fields — like they have done for a long time. Little people in little yards were harvesting their garden plots. God continues to provide arable land and the precious water to make things grow. It is not an accident. It is by His hand as He awaits those who will see that He is life and the light of men. In a larger view, the planet is no accident. No other planet is like it. There is no alien life out there, though many seek to find it, which is based on a naturalistic view that says life should have developed anywhere in the universe. Yet no aliens can be found. They won’t be. Regardless, now we teach youngsters to the old that life starts anywhere, on its own, without direction, without purpose, and without an apparent end in sight. God is disallowed.
History shows we are unique but never seem satisfied. The earth remains poorly ruled, and our own behavior shows we do not get better on our own. Bad things keep happening; evil keeps cropping up. With all of this, He still beckons, still calls, still waits for those who will reach to Him. We cannot get away from it — the imprint of Himself is upon us (Genesis 1:26-27), but men love darkness (John 1:19). Yet, we were designed to have a relationship with Him.
The seasons are another giant sign post that points to Him. So, when I see those Autumn flowers, the colored forests, the harvest, or conditions that bring forth food in due season, it reminds me of His patience. It was His intent from the beginning for us to know Him. And, He made provision for forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 1:3).
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Want to read more about the biblical view of creation that has purpose, direction, and consequence? Want to find answers about the age of the earth, dinosaurs, aliens, and the impact of the Genesis Flood? In the process, one can learn about the differences between the biblical and naturalistic/evolutionary world views. Look under DOWNLOADABLE COURSES for resources. There is a book, ebook, and free APP that can help.
