By Rev. Tim Sandeno
St. Johns Lutheran Church
and School, Wykoff
I have heard many say that autumn is their favorite among the seasons. While maybe not yet peak for our area, the trees are changing and the reds, yellows, and oranges of fall are making their appearance. I pray that God provides abundantly for those who love this season. I have seen during my walks that the squirrels have had a good harvest of nuts this year. Their secret stores are plentiful. The deer have foraged abundantly in bean fields and upon meadow grasses. They have fattened themselves for the coming winter. Likewise, this time of year is busy with the harvest and soon the grain bins will be filled in hopes that no one should lack in the coming year.
King David reminds us in Psalm 34:9 that such abundance is the result of fearing Him: “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!” The trees, the animals, and the farmer show a proper fear of the coming winter and the natural order of the seasons created by God. They fear God and His created order for to go against Him would prove futile and disastrous.
The words of David and their meaning extend beyond the natural way of things in creation. They speak of more than the need to pay attention to seasons. They speak to God’s abundant forgiveness in Jesus Christ as the answer to man’s predicament of sin. God’s storehouse of forgiveness has been filled by the blessed life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, and He wishes only to share it with all who fear Him, that none should lack in His eternal good things. To fear God is to recognize and abide by His order of things; to know and believe what He says about us as His creation and about Himself as our Creator and Savior.
I encourage you to enjoy the fall colors, rejoice with the squirrel’s bounty and the deer’s plumpness, and be sure to thank a farmer. Even more do I encourage you to take part in that activity of the saints in worship as they look to the Lord of the harvest for the blessing of forgiveness that comes in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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