The Kaleidoscope of Change

There is no doubt; Fall is my favorite time of the year. It’s the break in temperatures and the excitement of football. But what gets me the most is the kaleidoscope of color that God paints in the leaves. I’ve been a “leaf-watcher” for a long time now. Every Autumn, tree leaves catch our attention with burning reds, glowing oranges, and bright yellows.

It’s incredible that such a range of color, the beauty that so many people “ooh” and “aah” over, is the direct result of dying leaves. In the Fall, trees respond to the changing season by producing less chlorophyll. I’ve learned that chlorophyll is an unstable substance, so when temperatures cool, other colorful pigments in the leaves are revealed. The vivid colors are unveiled through a dying process that will help replenish the soil as the leaves blanket the ground.

The Christian’s life encounters a kaleidoscope of seasons, doesn’t it? The process of “dying to the world” can siphon away our energy because we seem so resistant to change. Here’s where the beauty comes in … the more the energies of this world are siphoned from us as we imitate Christ, the more the colors of Christ are revealed in us as we reflect His image. When people come into contact with Christians who resemble Jesus, they will “ooh” and “aah.”

The Fall is about change, and change is mandatory in a Christian's life so that our lives can be blanketed with God’s presence. And through the “changing” process, the Spirit replenishes us through His handiwork of sanctification.