The Four Seasons
The recent wave of cold
weather has left many of us a bit perplexed.
On our calendars, the season of Spring started way back on March 20th,
and here we are a week into April with 35-degree afternoons. We even had a few days of warmth and sunshine
to further add to the confusion. When
does one season end and another begin?
Well, as whimsical as
the weather may seem sometimes, we need not worry whether or not the seasons
are on track. Indeed, God has promised
that, as long as this world remains, we can always count on the progression of
spring, summer, fall, and winter (Gen. 8:22).
Likewise, the Lord has created man to be born, to grow and develop, and
to yield fruit in different seasons of our lives. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “for everything there
is a season, and a time for every purpose under the sun.” God has given purpose to each and every one
of us, no matter what season of life when are in.
Spring – “Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart
cheer you in the days of your youth and walk in the ways of your heart and the
sight of your eyes; but know that, for all these things, God will bring you
into judgment.” (Eccl. 11:9) Young
people typically have fewer worries than older generations. Yes, life is more fun in the spring of
youth! Experiences are new. Tastes, sounds, sensations, freedom are still
new to the mind of the young person, and so they should enjoy those things
within the boundaries the Lord has set.
They usually don’t have loans to pay back, utility and phone bills are
taken care of, they eat for free at their parent’s table…what a life! But the wise man reminds them that they are
still accountable for their choices. In
judgment, if they are of a sound
Young people, in the
spring of their lives, are often mislabeled by older generations. Young men and women, though generally lacking
in experience and depth of knowledge, are just as capable of calling on the
Lord, remembering the covenant they have with Him, and doing His will as any
older person. Young people need to be
given more opportunities to serve and do well.
They need to be encouraged instead of discouraged, built up instead of
torn down.
Truly, life is sweet
for the young person, though they can hardly realize how sweet it is because
they don’t know any other stage of life.
But the wise man reminds them that there will come a time when life and
this world no longer seem as sweet.
“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days
come, when you shall say, I have no
pleasure in them.” (Eccl. 12:1)
Summer – Time to get to work!
During the summer of our lives, we suddenly find ourselves with jobs,
responsibilities, often families, mortgages, bills piled up to the roof. Its busy, busy, busy! The days are long and hot. The work is endless. But has the Lord not prepared those during
this season with the lessons learned in youth, coupled with strength, vigor,
and ambition? The wise man speaks about
the wise ant who works in the summer, storing up provisions and preparing for
the fall (Prov. 30:25).
Those who are in the
summer of their lives have to be particularly careful when it comes to how they
apply their energy, strength, and knowledge.
Many Christians are so concerned with building up a savings account and
making sure their investments are solid, that they misplace the strength and
energy the Lord gave them to build up the local church. As busy and active as we are capable of being
in our daily lives, should we not be equally if not MORE active in the local body?
We may or may not see
material or financial gain, but spiritual blessings always seem to make more
sense to older generations than they do to the younger. They begin to see genuine glimpses of how the
Lord operates and uses people and circumstances to accomplish His will. Because of this, those in the fall of life
are more equipped to admonish, teach, and guide younger generations.
Christians in the fall
of life are typically those who might be under consideration for eldership,
with faithful men and their wives having prepared themselves in previous
seasons for that honorable service. When
we consider the qualifications of the elder in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, we find
these are qualities that were developed in the spring and summer of life, and
now those men who’ve met those qualifications can enter that work in the fall.
Winter – Ecclesiastes 12 illustrates the winter of life with an aged
house, in which the keepers of the house tremble, the once strong are bowed
down, the grinders cease because they are few, the vision of those looking out
the windows are darkened, and the sounds of voices and music are dimmed
(v.3,4). Those in the winter of life have
reached that stage where the days have little material pleasure as it does for
the youth. Those in the winter of life
are reminded that, soon, “the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the
spirit will return to God who gave it.” Those in old age are
still children in the eyes of God. They
are, in fact, the children of God. God
has prepared them by His word for reconciliation, and the thought of leaving
this material world brings but feelings of contentment and peace for those who
have put their trust in the Lord. But,
as long as they are in this world, they still have a purpose. They still have work to do in encouraging the
brethren, contributing wisdom gained from having survived the other seasons of
life with their faith intact, and preparing up-and-coming generations of God’s
people (Titus
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