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The enduring classic daily devotional
guide, “Streams in the Desert,” calls for giving thanks for
the planned kaleidoscope we call the year, that the earth in
its journey makes the one cycle a perpetual delight,
emphasizing then how this is especially true in the season
of splendor that arrives every October, asking: “Who with
the least bit of love of nature in his disposition has not
gone out of his way to see hills covered and the vales
filled with the glory and splendor of falling leaves?”
October abounds with lessons about
life. While approaching the end of their cycle, leaves leave
even more beautiful than when they arrived. Colors that have
been hidden from spring until now suddenly burst forth
declaring the design of the Creator, reminding us that the
later years of life have their own special beauty.
One of the wonders of this season is
the preparation of birds to head to warmer places for
winter. Flocks of these feathered friends fill the air and
line up on utility wires awaiting some inner signal to sound
before making their departure, seemingly wanting to capture
a few more days of viewing October’s colors before flying
away.
And, then there’s the beauty of the
harvest.
October’s leaves add color to this
special season, but the harvest contributes both beauty and
bounty to our lives, providing food to enjoy and carry us
through the cold winter season, another reason for giving
thanks for God’s great plan which, according to the Bible,
leaves us all without excuse for unbelief (Romans
1:20). Creation’s beauty and bounty are intended to bring us
to faith and we’ll be held accountable for ignoring their
clear lessons of love.
Generations past saw October as an
ideal time for another kind of harvest: a harvest of people
being brought to their Lord. Churches regularly planned
October revival meetings when outreach in communities ran in
tandem with harvests in the fields. Traveling preachers and
musicians were often scheduled months or even years in
advance for these efforts and the year’s program pointed to
them, frequently involving weeks or months of prayer
meetings expecting these to enlarge the harvest.
Our Lord spoke often of this kind of
harvest and urged His hearers to recognize its importance
and get involved. “The fields are white already to harvest,”
he said and promised rewards to the reapers.
Are we missing opportunities that those
before us seized?
What would happen in your church if
October’s beauty signaled the time for a spiritual harvest
had arrived? What would the result be if this birthed a new
vision of what could be accomplished if everyone in the
congregation decided to labor in the harvest?
One of October’s most moving sights is
a large flock of Canadian Geese flying from lake to lake
increasing their number for the long trip to their winter
home. The trip ahead will be difficult and massive
organization and cooperation will be required to make it
safely but they’ve been divinely equipped for this journey.
We’re also divinely equipped. And as we
allow October’s splendor to remind us of God’s love we’ll
enjoy this October more than ever. This will be especially
true if we share in the joy of a harvest of people whose
lives have been changed, enlarging the flock and filling our
churches with people who now know they’re on their way home. |
