I’m really not sure at what age I began to be awed by the changing of the seasons. Look now along the edges of the road and notice how the green leaves and blooms on trees are becoming prominent. Daylight hours are increasing and so are temperatures. Spring is almost upon us.
When I was younger there were only two seasons - school and summer! Summer was wonderful and seemed to go on forever! Now I pay more attention to all four seasons.
The scriptures speak about seasons: a time for something, or a period of time.
Ecl. 3:1 “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven...” birth, death, planting, harvesting, laughing, crying. As we go through life, we will experience most of the things in Solomon’s lengthy list.
Heb. 11:24-25, “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season...” Moses made a powerful choice. He could have indulged in all of the wealth and privilege of Egyptian power - for a few years - his lifetime - a season. And the world would have never known God’s great leader Moses!
Acts 24:24-25, “And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient season I will call for you." It will be easier to lose weight next month. I know I’m not living as I should, but right now this is what I’m going to do. One of these days I’m going to: be baptized, get back into church, repent of what I’m doing, fix things up with my family, be a better parent or spouse. Felix was waiting until it was easy for him to give up sin. But that season will never come.
Lk. 15:13-14, "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.” This boy also made a foolish choice. He chose to indulge himself but his season of “fun” passed very quickly and then he had trouble. There are no pleasures on this earth that remain. All are temporary. Many lessons have been taught about the foolish choice of Esau. I wonder in real life how many of us have given up spiritual treasures for the worldly equivalent of a bowl of beans. (Gen. 25:3-34)
-Tim Orbison