One look out my window today here in the mountains of western North Carolina proves that Fall has arrived. I’ve already got a yard full of dead leaves that have officially made the “fall” from their trees to the ground, and more of their peers will come down today. Despite the fact that I have to deal with all the leaves, I love this season. It’s my favorite time of the year.
My neighborhood is also currently offering vivid reminders that Fall is here as the yards of some of my neighbors look like shrines to Halloween. One guy up the street from me has devoted literally thousands of dollars to turning his yard into a ghoulish graveyard filled with row after row of gigantic, towering decorations (a talking witch, a mummy, a grim reaper, ghosts, zombies, etc.) No wonder Fall is considered the season of death. The leaves die. The grass dies. The long summer days die. The warm weather dies. Following their deaths all these things will be buried for the duration of the winter, and then spring will arrive, the season of new life.
I don’t know what it says about me that Fall is my favorite season of the year. A psychologist might tell me it means that I’m more into death than life. Then again, it might be as simple as me hating bees, mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, and hot weather. Or, since I love baseball, maybe my mind subconsciously associates fall with the Major League playoffs and World Series. For that matter, since October 3rd is my birthday, I don’t necessarily associate fall with death anyway. I associate it with life, at least mine. Take that, Mr. Psychologist.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is one of my favorite passages of scripture. It’s one that I reference often. The passage’s opening two verses say:
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die…(N.K.J.V.)
Perhaps today, as you read this short post, there is something in your life that needs to die. Maybe that something is a pet sin. Maybe it’s a relationship that isn’t God’s will for you. Maybe it’s a mindset that isn’t pleasing to God. Maybe it’s a course of action that you’ve started that God never wants you to finish. Maybe it’s something else. Whatever it is, there is no better time of year to put it to death. If you think about it, God’s symbolism for the death is seen all around us right now.
The Disciple's Road 
Pastor, you are making me jealous for the Fall! I used to live in the Northeast and now live in the Southwest. I miss the crisp air and the beautiful colors of the leaves. New England has the best show of colors. Intense reds, yellows and everything in between. God the great painter giving us a show right before winter. I never thought it was about death, but as a slumber period for nature until the next big show in Spring. In the desert Southwest Fall means getting relief from the excruciating heat of the Summer. It has its plusses and minuses, but I sure do miss the Fall. Unfortunately, the winter season follows Fall and I don’t miss the cold and snow. Our winters are beautiful with no snow (a big plus). By the way, I appreciated your series on Satan. I know he is a “roaring lion” but never really thought about all the tools at his disposal. Thanks again for your website, your “stories” always have some great nuggets of wisdom. All the best.
Thank you so much, Carl. Trust me, I’ll be jealous of you when I start raking all those leaves! God bless.