The calendar says we are sliding down the back half of September. The thermometer on our back porch here in Middle Tennessee says it is 95 degrees in the shade. The sweat on my brow sure doesn’t feel like tomorrow is the first day of fall, despite what that almanac on the wall insists is the case. Fortunately, I have more indications than just what the calendar says.
Summer’s heat may be digging in its heels, but other signs of autumn are all around us. Most of the leaves on the trees here on the ridge are turning that dull olive-green of late summer. Some, like the poplars, have already turned their distinctive bright yellow. The Farmer’s Almanac tells me that once the first leaves turn, the first frost is probably about four weeks away.
The undergrowth in the woods around us is dying off. The poison oak leaves are turning scarlet red. The grass has stopped growing and, in places, crunches underfoot. And while our tomato plants are still producing yellow blooms at the top, down at their business end, close to the soil, they’ve obviously closed up shop for the season.
Orange pumpkins, big as basketballs, decorate fields hereabouts. And even though Knoxville is a tad over two hundred miles off to the east, I could swear I hear the joyous refrains of Rocky Top echoing off the Smoky Mountains as the University of Tennessee gears up for football on Saturdays. All the signs of a change of season are here. Summer is slipping away, and full-blown autumn is just over the horizon.
Just as we know the signs of the seasons, so Jesus tells us to watch for the signs of His return (Luke 21:29-31). I know you recognize these, but humor me as I refresh my memory.
- Preaching the gospel to all nations.
- Wars and rumors of wars.
- Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes.
- Increase in lawlessness and cold love.
- Worldwide hatred for believers.
There are others, of course, but these resonate with me right down to my soul. And just like the coming autumn, the signs of Jesus’ return are all around us. There’s something else the Word says Jesus implores of us who believe in Him. Jesus tells us … Be Ready! We should be staying alert, praying, serving others, and diligently carrying out the Great Commission—to make disciples of all nations.
The signs are here. Are you ready?
Kevin Spencer likes to play with words, help others play with them, and is privileged to be a staff writer for Christian Devotions. He lives with his beautiful blessing of a wife, Charlotte, and his amazing collegiate grandson, Caleb.