Fall was my mom’s favorite time of year. Mom was born, married and went
back home during her favorite time year. But mom always loved how pretty
the leaves made the whole tree look. How they made everything look. But
if you really think about why the leaves on the trees are so pretty in
the fall, it’s because they’re dying.
The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes
that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to
winter. During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories
where most of the foods necessary for the tree's growth are
manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in
numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green
color. This extraordinary chemical absorbs from sunlight the energy that
is used in transforming carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates, such
as sugars and starch. Along with the green pigment are yellow to orange
pigments. Most of the year these colors are masked by great amounts of
green coloring. But, as time passes and the chlorophyll breaks down, the
beautiful colors emerge. And it’s beautiful. Leaves also help keep you
cool on hot days by providing shade. Leaves also help make trees good
homes for animals, like birds, squirrels, and bugs by providing them
shelter, a place to hide and even food.
Mom was a lot like a
leaf. She provided us with a beautiful home. She made us food and gave
us spiritual nutrition for growth. She provided us shelter from the rain
and shade from the hot sun and a place to hide when we needed to hide
out for a while. But, while mom was always beautiful, just before mom
left us, that’s when her true beauty really shown through. And everyone
could see that. Just like the fall leaves.
People are going to
say that mom “lost” her battle with cancer. But mom didn’t lose. Mom won
her battle with cancer the day that she made Jesus Christ her Lord and
Savior. No, God for only a reason greater than we can know, did not
physically heal our mom. But God doesn’t just heal, he transforms. It’s
easier to see the physical things that need healing, but it’s harder to
see beyond the physical. Sometimes, it’s the emotional, relational and
spiritual things that need healing. The healing I saw God perform in mom
over the last two years, was not physical. It was the emotional,
relational and spiritual things that He healed. God knew that those
things were more important than the physical healing. Those things
affect our spirit. And it’s our spirits that matter the most to God.
Mom didn’t want to suffer. She said that to me many, many times. But
the suffering we experience is God trusting us to bring hope to a dying
world. Suffering gets us beyond ourselves. Where we end, God begins. In
our weakness, He is strong. And God uses sorrowful suffering to set the
stage for surprising triumph.
1 Peter 4 says this, “Therefore,
since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same
attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a
result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human
desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time
in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust,
drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are
surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and
they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is
ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the
gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might
be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live
according to God in regard to the spirit. The end of all things is near.
Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all,
love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should
use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful
stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they
should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves,
they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the
power for ever and ever. Amen. Dear friends, do not be surprised at the
fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something
strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate
in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory
is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are
blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you
suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of
criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian,
do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is
time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with
us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of
God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become
of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to
God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and
continue to do good.”
I was reading this passage this morning and it really reminded me of my mom.
Mom was always warning that the end is coming.
Mom always loved others deeply.
Mom loved to offer hospitality to everyone. She never grumbled about it. She loved making everyone feel right at home.
And everything mom did, in work, at home, at church, she did so with
the strength God gave her. And, in doing so, God was praised
And, even in her suffering, she praised the name of God.
Her faith was incredible.
Is God only good when He answers our prayers? Is not God good all the
time? Do we only trust God for good things? Do we not also trust God
after loss, sadness or tragedy? I’m sorry for your loss? I’m sorry for
your loss. The Lord needs more people like mom. The Lord needs more
Christians like mom. Christians who aren’t afraid to speak the Truth.
Who love unconditionally. Who offer incredible hospitality without
thinking twice about it. Who let the Love and Spirit of God shine
through them.
Mom had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
and it changed her life. A Christian life is not a religious life. It’s
a relationship life. A relationship with our Heavenly Father. So I want
to ask you, do you know Jesus? Not what someone else knows about Jesus,
but what do you know? Because if you base your relationship with Jesus
around what someone else knows about him, when that person fails or goes
away, your life will be wrecked. It will be wrecked because you didn’t
have your own relationship with him.
God’s love is better than
this life. He loves you. “For God so loved the world that He gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have
eternal life.” God loves you. He wants to have a relationship with you.
There’s nothing you have to do or change. God will do the changing. All
you have to do is believe in Him. If my mom’s life affected you in such a
way that changed you, it was the fact that she allowed Jesus Christ to
shine through her. She loved because He first loved us. Let God change
you.
Let the love of God change your life today. You can do this by:
1. Acknowledging that Jesus Christ is God; that He came to earth as a
man in order to live the sinless life that we cannot live.
2. That He died in our place, so that we would not have to pay the penalty of sin which we deserve.
3. Understanding that we live in a sin-filled world, that we ourselves are sinners, living for ourselves and not obeying God.
4. Admitting that we are ready to trust Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
5. Asking Jesus to come into our heart, take up residence there, and begin living through us.
Originally published to Facebook 10/21/17
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