Cyber-Discipleship

In Romans 1:19-20, Paul states that nature declares the existence of God. Though this passage primarily speaks of God declaring Himself through His creation (for a creation must have a Creator just as a painting must have an artist or a sculpture must have a sculptor). I contend that God went as far as even to place the Gospel message within the seasons so that no one will be able to stand before Him and say that there was not enough evidence of His existence. All they would need to do is look around themselves with an open mind. Even if it was not His intent, the Gospel message can be interpreted or understood by looking at the seasons. My argument is below.

The message of the Gospel is written in the seasons. Let us start with Summer. Summer is the season of perfection. The weather is usually near perfect for being outside. Parks are full, and people are at the lake. Summer holidays such as Independence Day and Labor Day inspire BBQs and picnics. Trees and flowers are in full bloom. This is the season when Adam and Eve were in the garden. Everything was perfect.

Then comes Autumn (also known as Fall). Autumn, or Fall, is so named because it is when the leaves change colors and begin to fall from the trees in anticipation of winter. The temperature also begins to cool. God’s creation ‘fell’ from perfection when Satan deceived Adam and Eve into eating the fruit from the forbidden tree.

What came because of the Fall? Death. What comes after Autumn? Winter. What does Winter resemble? Death. During the winter season, images of death are present, such as bare trees, brown grass, and empty flower beds. God said that on the day they ate the fruit, they woul..d die. Man immediately died spiritually. (He and God broke fellowship and became enemies.) At this point, humanity also began to die physically.

Spring is like the earth being reborn or rejuvenated. Green leaves start to appear on the trees. Flowers begin to bud. Birds are out singing. Grass begins to wake up and turn green. Easter is usually in the spring, and its symbols are the egg and the Easter Bunny, both representing new life. Jesus came, lived a sinless life, and died a substitutionary death. He was buried in a borrowed tomb and raised from the dead three days later. In John chapter 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born again to see (or enter) the kingdom of heaven.

Now, this Summer would represent the Eternal State (the New Heaven and the New Earth). The Eternal State is also known as Eden Regained or Restored. In the New Heaven and New Earth, all things will be made new.

If you think about it, the world itself reflects this. Summer is the Garden. Autumn, or Fall, represents the current age. Spring would represent the Millennial Reign. Just as spring foreshadows summer, the Millennial Reign foreshadows Heaven. Again, summer would represent the Eternal State.

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse” (Revelation 22:1-3a).