“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

The leaves are falling. More spiral downward, covering the ground. He watches them through the window, his face pressed against the glass, a worried expression imprinted there. Small handprints on the pane reach outward to try and catch the leaves—on the other side.

“Mommy, how do they get back up?”
“They will come back in the spring.”
“But how?”
“The leaves will grow in the buds- green and new again.”
“Why did they fall down?”
“It was just their time, son.”

We are blessed with special people in our lives. Some leave handprints on our hearts. We watch them swirling downward. We can’t bring them back up. We can’t hold them through the glass on the other side. Yet, in our loss as they leave us, we must remember there is spring and life again. God has promised this renewal to those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Job spoke with God, asking the question all humankind needs answered:

14) If someone dies, will they live again?
All the days of my hard service
I will wait for my renewal to come.
15) You will call and I will answer you;
you will long for the creature your hands have made.
16) Surely then you will count my steps
but not keep track of my sin. (Job 14:14-16)

The verb repeatedly used in this conversation is “will.” This future tense is the expectation that God will grant this renewal. It will happen. Job’s “I will wait” statement is the demonstration of faith by Job that he knows new life will come in God’s time and plan, not his.

David affirmed this belief, using the same future tense verb, in his song to the Lord.

9) Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10) because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay. (Psalm 16:9-10)

John confirmed this promise, using a comparable future tense verb “shall.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

The leaves are falling. Our season will come. God’s promise of renewal on the Tree of Life shall be fulfilled. Let us remain faithful that we may receive our promised inheritance—a new life in forever bloom with the Lord.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

(Sharon G. Tate blog 10/04/15) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word