We all look forward to the summer. We’re looking forward to beach trips, water activities, cookouts, vacations, sporting activities, and so much more. A christian’s summer season represents fire, passion, high spiritual activity, and intense excitement. The spiritual summer can also be likened to a mountain top experience. You’re at your best in the summer. You have energy, the days are longer, and the nights are shorter. It seems as though life should always be this way.
The summer season brings all the good it has to offer with one main challenge. The same heat that allows you to have the exhilarating mountain top experience also threatens to burn and scorch your skin. It threatens to evaporate all the water living inside of you and dehydrate you. In spiritual terms, the deception of growth can easily lead to apathy when we discover that not all the upcoming harvest is going to be beneficial and useful. AND not all will stay even through the arduous winter ahead.
It is good to enjoy and take full advantage of summer seasons. We need the relief and the joy of knowing that all the hard work we’ve put into a season of warfare, a work God has established for us, or a personal growth goal, has paid off. We need to take a moment and enjoy the view from the mountain top. It’s okay to express joy and delight when God does new things in our lives. While we shouldn’t boast, we do need to acknowledge and celebrate what God is doing. Scripture says all of heaven celebrates when one sinner turns from darkness to light (Luke 15:10). We rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15). We rejoice, for the harvest is plentiful (Isaiah 9:3). And the list goes on…
The rejoicing is a direct result of the fruit. Psalm 126 gives a clear description of the seasonal transitions: “Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” (NIV). We sow in tough times and reap with songs of joy in due time. While we rejoice, we work to establish strong, deep roots and foundations through prayer and the word. We also work to stay spiritually hydrated by the Word.
The simmering summer sun may be upon us in some areas of our lives, our ministries, and our surroundings. Rejoice in the mountain top yet beware of the scorching potential of the sun. Stay tuned…We wrap up “A Christian for all Seasons” next week with the fall season. A season of harvest…
Nelson Masinde 