“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” ISAIAH 40:8

It’s that time of the year again!

The older I get the faster it seems to go.

One day it’s the birth of a New Year and seemingly overnight it’s time for Pumpkin Rolls, Pumpkin Pie, Carmel Apples and Fodder Shock laden farms offering visitors hayrides.

A truly beautiful season is summer, with lush green leaves covering everything, fireflies, crickets, and froggies, and campfires, roasted marshmallows and cares all set aside.

The long days seemingly offering a gentle hope of time not so stressed, not so rushed, a little extra moment to bask in the sun.

But just as beautifully as the season begins, it will go just as beautifully to  its end

Summer will not go modestly clothed to the death.

Summer will be arrayed in splendors of color and beauty, reds, gold, burgundy, and hues of faded green.

Golder Rod, Ironweed, Black-Eyed Susan, laden apple trees, hickory and walnuts intoxicating scents, wood smoke from fireplaces, the unmistakable aroma of summers end.

Chilly mornings, bundled up in blankets on even chillier nights, toasty hot days forcing us to make clothing choices that depending on the hour will never be quite right.

I think the true appeal, even though we know the snow and cold lie ahead, is that our spirits understand the true beauty in summers death and as we see the beauty in creation reveal, we have hope, hope in knowing that in the dying, regeneration will come.

Once that long. cold winter is past the buds will reappear.

The beauty in the birth of Jesus, his horrific death, but his regeneration, resurrection bringing new life to all who will accept it.

Life eternal, Life Forever, and Life that will never fade away and no more night.

“And I John saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the former things were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are faithful and true.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” REVELATION 21:1-8

I wanted to stop for a little clarification.

I felt we needed the last verse because of the condition of this earth.

All the celebrated behaviors of this earth are the very behaviors that will disqualify those who are left unsaved from entering that eternal kingdom and eternal rest.

Having choose these worldly things rather than eternal salvation of Christ.

It is a choice, no one who dies lost will ever be allowed to argue the point, it is offered, it is free but he’s not just going to make people get saved, we have free will, we have to make that decision, we have to accept and make our own choice.

Which is exactly why this word was given us, explicitly named behaviors, so that we cannot plead ignorance to the truth.

God loves us all too much to ever let us be lost due to lack of knowledge.

JAMES 4:17: ‘ Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

We are only accountable for what we know and we are given grace and mercy for what we do not.

God will teach us in all his ways, but just as the Bible equates it, we must grow in Christ, we are as spiritual newborns when we accept salvation and jut as no one expects their newborn baby to know how to drive car, shop for groceries or any other task nidicolous for their abilities, it is the same spiritually, we grow and as we grow we have more responsibility and we are bound by that knowledge.

LUKE 12:48: ” But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whom much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”

I also wanted to clarify the use of fearful, we all are afraid at times, remember David famously penned:

PSALMS 56:3: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”

We know the God given courage and boldness of David, but he was also subject to human fears.

DEUTERONOMONY 31:6: ” Be strong and of a good courage (courageous), fear not, nor be afraid of them: For the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee: he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

This use of fearful refers to cowardice, fear of people, fear of what others will think, fear of speaking the truth even when one knows what is right but hiding that truth as a coward.

Being afraid in a situation and being a coward are completely different.

As we watch for Fall and we are witnessing the fall, let’s keep focus on the beauty.

The death of society leads to repentance, and self-reflection, many upon the realization of, yes, we do live in a very real, tangible world now thinking a little more deeply concerning the state of their soul and the afterlife and pondering what it is that they truly believe and what it is that they are truly willing to stand for.

And with that beauty will come, in the midst of the withering, beauty will come and as the Autumn brings those ever-shortening days, and winter approaches and there is more darkness than day, (you should be digging that on both levels, naturally and spiritually) Think of this passage and think of this day.

REVELATION 21:22: “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light thereof. And the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour int it.

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day:  for there is no night there.”

Happy last day of Summer!

Have a blessed first day of Autum tomorrow and Blessed Rosh Hashanah, 5786 coming soon!

Love & Peace to you and yours till next time! As always thank you for reading and giving this post and me a little of your day!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2025/Reverend Nina Brown Johnson