‘Tis the Season
The prophet Jeremiah said, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” (Jeremiah 8:20) I think of this passage when someone exclaims, “’ Tis the season,” and are thinking of only the close of the year. I’m not “anti-festive” or anything like it! I enjoy the joys of bells all ringing, children singing when all is merry and bright.” I truly enjoy the improvements in attitudes and the cheer and generosity that fills most hearts and promotes a more positive outlook to life than the “doom and gloom” that so often captivates our emotions.
While it is the season for colds and flu, end-of-the-year expenses, and summaries of activities, the season for unpredictable weather, unexpected calamities, and undesired disappointments. But when is it not such a season? Solomon wrote, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) Reality dictates we can live but one day at a time –, one moment at a time – and within that time, things happen: often things over the which we have no control. Still, we accept these obstacles and for the Christian, rejoice we have God to help us through the difficulties.
Granted, we all would prefer a lifelong season of blissful peace: free from all negativities and filled with the greatest of great things, both spiritual and temporal. Would you be content with a “most of the time” season? By that, I mean a lifelong season in which the challenges are met with you being the victor every time! It can happen! Examine Romans 8: 31 – 39: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” See, it is always the season to prove we are children of God, and never afraid of what the world may do to us (Hebrews 13: 5 – 6). We rejoice when challenged by life’s onslaughts (1 Peter 1: 6 – 9), knowing we are children of God (1 Peter 4:12 - 16).
There are four seasons every year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Depending on your personal preference, one season may be more delightful to you than another, but you’ll notice the necessity of living through all four every year! That explains why some who prefer warmer weather during the winter season migrate to Florida, Arizona, or some other southern climate. But think of this type of “constant season.” Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2) Literally, the statement means, “Be ready to preach the word when convenient and when it isn’t convenient.” Indeed, ‘tis the season to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus, and NOT restrict that goodness to the time of His birth. Yes, the scriptures give us the information of His birth, except the date. Further, we are never told to remember His birth till He comes, but instead, His death (1 Corinthians 11:26) Therefore, it is ALWAYS the right season to preach the word of God, to instruct souls what they must do to be saved, and further teach them what they must do to remain faithful unto death.
God’s love for us is abundant! Not only has He given us His only begotten Son, who died for the remission of our sins, but God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 17:31), proving that Jesus is His only begotten Son, and further proving there is life after death! God loves us enough to give us the instructions as to how to obtain life after death – and it is NOT merely to die in this world! The gospel of Christ is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16 – 17) and to obey the gospel requires us to hear it, believe it, repent of our sins, confess our faith in knowing Jesus is the Son of God, and being immersed into Christ via being buried in water (i.e., baptism) for the remission of our sins! It’s always the right season for obeying the gospel! And should you be one who returned to the weak and beggarly elements of a sin-cursed world, it is always the right season to repent and return to Christ Jesus, the Shepherd and Bishop of your soul!
Yes, dear reader, ‘tis the season to be full of joy and happiness. And the GREATEST joy of all is being a child of God! If we can help you in this obedience, we’re ready to enjoy the season!