Change and Decay In All Around I See

What does autumn make you think of? Americana is full of fall traditions that many of us hold closer to our hearts. Plenty of people enjoy these experiences so much that they list autumn as their favorite season of the year. They love the changing colors, the pumpkins, the football and the hot apple cider. While I certainly enjoy a picturesque fall day and a good football game, I would never list autumn as one of my favorite seasons. To be honest, it would rank towards the bottom in my book.

Why do I not love fall like so many others do? Fall reminds me of decay and death. Nothing in this world reminds me of the transient nature of everything around us like the progression of fall. The beautiful shades of red and orange give way into brown, which is followed by the months of barren trees and fields that we know as winter. While fall has plenty of terrific traditions, I can't quite shake an uncomfortable, ominous feeling as I watch the life all around me slowly enter dormancy.

The great hymn Abide With Me comes to mind as we consider this phenomenon of fall. Verse 2 says “Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide me with me!” This verse points us to a truth found in Hebrews 13:8, which says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” While everything around us is in a constant state of change and decay, God does not change. While the applications of God's changelessness are endless, perhaps the most important is that his love for you never changes. Jesus loved you so much that he died so that you could be with him. The Holy Spirit loved you enough to miraculously change your sinful heart into a heart of faith. God will continue to watch over you with this love throughout this life and eternity. Our changeless God does abide with us throughout all the changes around us.

Yes, everything in this world is transient. Fall reminds me of that in a powerful way, but I guess that's alright. Because, when it comes down to it, our lives here are transient too. When you see the decay around you this fall, thank God for providing you with a Savior who will never decay or change. Thanks be to God that he will abide with us through all the changes of this life until we enter paradise where there will be no more decay.