FROM THE PULPIT: THE COLORS OF LIVES

Is it me, or are the oranges and reds a little brighter, and more vivid this year? What a profound pleasure to drive or walk around the countryside in this most pleasant time of autumn, as the fall colors reach their peak!

I don't know a lot about why the colors are more vivid some years than others, or the timing involved. I seem to remember that the whole process is one of dying, that the chlorophyl, which gives the leaves their green color, and causes all plants to grow, is drained from the leaves, as the trees begin to enter a more dormant period during the coming winter. Personally, after the past two summers with extended dry periods (okay, droughts!) I was wondering if there would be much of any color besides brown. But it's that time of year, and sure enough, the color came again.

It seems to me that we can apply this to our spiritual lives as well. How often do we go through a dry period in our lives. We are dominated by the dull and routine, overcome by adversity or stress, and suffer all sorts of setbacks. Sometimes we wonder if comfort or joy will ever return, so deep is our sorrow.

The Bible has good news for us! God still and always loves us. "God is love, and in Him is no darkness at all," (1 John 1:5) and, "We love, because God first loved us." (1 John 4:19). Paul reminds us in Romans 8, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" (Rom. 8:31-32)

"If God loves me so much," you may say, "why has all this bad stuff happened to me?" My mom and dad loved, and still love me very much. Did they shield me from everything that came my way? I still had to learn to deal with bullies at school, with accidents that happened, whether my fault or not, and with all the "bumps and bruises" of life.

By learning to deal constructively with adversity, our earthly parents teach us far more than they ever could by lavishing hugs and ever-present protection on us. We can grow into more mature, self-sufficient adults. So with God. In wonderful ways that even include adversity and hardship, God is bringing us into maturity and strength.

We probably are all familiar with the verse, "In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) We should continue reading the next verse and remind ourselves what that purpose is- to be formed into the image of Christ! Paul reminded his hearers in the churches he planted, "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

Therefore, just like our beautiful trees of autumn, colorful after a season or two of drought, we may be sure that if we continue a life loving God and one another, that we will emerge more beautiful and gracious than ever, stronger, and able to bear all the more. And our beauty will be more than skin deep, but of a "gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (I Pet. 3:4)