Lessons from Changing Leaves

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Matthew 5:16

 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that^[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

(ESV)

Living in Phoenix Arizona, I do not have the pleasure of enjoying the changing of the colors of the leaves on the trees.  While this is a negative, living in Phoenix has the benefit of warmer winter temperatures.  Recently I learned that leaves do not actually change color in the fall but that the shorter days of fall bring out the true colors of the leaves. 

A short science lesson here.  Leaves serve as food factories for plants during the spring and summer through a process known as photosynthesis.  During the spring and summer months, leaves contain chlorophyll, the chemical giving leaves their green color.  Chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight and uses that energy to transform carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates like sugars and starch.  During the fall and winter months, as the days become shorter, the chlorophyll breaks down exposing the true colors of the leaves.  In other words, the beautiful colors of the leaves were always there but were covered by the green color of the chlorophyll.  (1)

This truth from science provides some wonderful spiritual lessons for us

1)      We were created in the image of God (Genesis1:26) – At creation, humanity was infused with the color of God’s image.  However, after the fall of Adam and Eve due to their disobedience to God, this color was covered with the stain of sin.  This is symbolized in scripture with Adam and Eve’s realization they were naked and in need of covering (Genesis 3:7).  Like the green chlorophyll covers the beautiful colors leaves were created with, sin covers the image of God with which we were all created.

2)      We need a change of season to remove the color of sin from our lives (1 John 1:7) – Jesus birth on the first Christmas ushered in a new season for humanity.  Previously God had dealt with humanity through the law and the sacrifice of animals to atone for sins.  These sacrifices of atonement had to occur regularly for the blood of these animals was insufficient to remove sin’s stain on our lives and only served as symbols of the ultimate blood sacrifice to come, the atoning blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross (Hebrews 10:1-18). 

3)      We can now let the light of God’s glory shine from us (Matthew 5:16) – With the stain of sin in our lives completely removed, the beautiful colors of the glory of God can now shine from us.  However, we must still be on our guard not to allow sin to creep back into our lives and cloud these glorious colors.  We all, including the Apostle Paul struggle with sin in our lives (Romans 7:7-25).  When the flesh rears its ugly face in our lives, it covers the beautiful colors of the glory of God which can now shine through because of the redemptive work or God in our lives. 

The changing leaves, like many other things we witness in nature provide lessons as to how we should live for God in our lives.  Our lives begin with the stain of sin covering the image of God in which all humanity was created.  When we accept the gift of salvation provided to us through the grace of God the stain of sin is removed from our lives and the glory of God can shine through.  However, even though we have received salvation and eternal life through the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ, the flesh can still take over in our lives, clouding the glory of God once again in our lives. 

Merry Christmas everyone and remember to let the glory of God shine through your life and strive not to let the stain of sin hide God’s beautiful colors of glory that were exposed by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. 

1. E-Center Learning Resources. Why Leaves Change Color. www.esf.edu. [Online] E-Center Learning Resources. [Cited: December 18, 2016.] http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm.