The Glorious Fall

By Chris Baxter

I grew up in the deep southern woods of Mississippi--lots and lots of pine trees towered over our home. So when I moved "way up here" in Tennessee, the colorful fall season took me by surprise. Year after year, I am mesmerized by the radiant reds, the fiery oranges, and the brilliant golds bursting from every tree and bush--incredible, breath-taking beauty.


I'm sure I am not the first to correlate God's seasons with His love story through Christ:


Fall speaks to us about His dying for us on the cross.

Winter represents His burial, enclosed in a death that we will never have to endure.

Spring shouts about His resurrection... a newness of life for all who believe.

And Summer proclaims the ongoing growth and abundance of this new life.

               

So, here we are again in the seasonal cycle; the glorious fall surrounds us. It's hard to believe these brilliant leaves on the trees are actually dying. But isn't that exactly what happened at the cross? Listen to Jesus' words to His Father, just before He was taken into custody:


Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of Your Son so the Son in turn may show Your bright splendor." (msg, John 17:1)


Two thousand years ago, the King of Glory hung on a tree, dying. His fiery passion for the world He loved held Him there, not the nails. His perfect crimson blood was willingly shed for you and me. And as our Savior's life was drained from Him, it was the most tragically beautiful gift to behold. Before the darkness of "winter" encroached, the Light of the World triumphantly cried out, "It is finished." Indeed, it was awe-full.


Today, this day, when I see the radiance all around me and watch these colorful trees of the field clapping their hands, I know why they're applauding. I want to join them in honor of the King that gave His life a ransom for many. So I too, will praise Him, and thank Him... for His glorious Fall.

Subscribe & Receive Email updates:

+
You are now subscribed to receive daily prayers!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
You May Also Like...

Daily Prayer

Someone we should imitate...

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

John 13:13-14

Dear Lord,

Help me realize that the greatest accomplishment I could ever achieve in my life is to quietly mimic you. May I not seek my own glory, but rather, please fill me with yours--the kind that radiates love, bends the knee, and washes feet. In Jesus' Name, Amen.