Fall is Coming….

Been a while since I wrote a blog and so as I am sitting here in Frostburg, Maryland I see the leaves are starting to change and the temp is nice 67 degrees this morning. Fall officially begins Tuesday, September 22 @ 8:05 pm (EST). That is the Astronomical Fall in case you are a stickler for details. Meteorological fall is September 1st.

In Florida, we are certainly tired of the incessant heat and the daily rain. Hurricane season ends November 30th so we still will be watching the storms forming for the next couple months. While Fall brings changes both in the season of life and the season of time, it still has some risk of storms and translating that to life, we still have the risk of problems, trials and struggles. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we will have troubles in this life but that His peace in us will overcome the world. In Matthew 24:3-31, He tells us about the signs of the times and the end of the Age. He warns us to not let those who appear to be followers of Christ deceive us. Verse 5 is very clear, “For many will come in My name saying, “I am the Christ and will deceive many.” And in verse 10 of that same chapter, He says, “then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”

I struggle sometimes when I see “believers” who claim faith, claim salvation, claim holiness but in reality do not act like the Christ that I know. I find myself wanting to fight back but Christ was consistent in all things including forgiveness. He never deceived about His purpose and never deceived about his life. Scripture tells us that we will know the true believer by their fruit and while I believe no human can ever be completely sin free, there must be striving to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. If we take the stance that “I have done what I wanted to do, said what I wanted to say, declared my position for the all to see, do we take Christ out of the mix?” Fighting for our rights, fighting for our desires is not the Jesus of the New Testament. It is holding on to self, arrogance and human traits that are contrary to the teaching of Christ. It may not seem like much, but saying, I got what I wanted is not the way of Christ.

We should ask this simple question in all things. Does this action, does this statement, does this belief reflect the Jesus of the New Testament or does it reflect the heart of a man. This is the very issue that we face in our daily life. Do I reflect Christ or do I reflect what I want. Do I look like Christ in what I am saying and doing or do I just take on a pseudo-Christian robe that really covers up the sinful heart.

This fall, let us take stock in the changes. When the storm blows and we get disappointed by something, do we look like Christ or do we look like ourselves but with a different cloak.

“ Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” (Matthew 24:32-33 NIV).

Much love

Preach