God has so designed His world that we can learn many life lessons from observing the creation. We can learn spiritual lessons from noting the happenings in nature. The parallels are astonishing and are readily seen by even the casual observer.
John the Baptist uses one such parallel in his warnings to the Sadducees and Pharisees. The natural expectation for a fruit tree (apple, pear, peach, fig, etc.) is that it will bear fruit at a certain time with normal cultivation. John applies this principle to Israel and its leaders in particular when he warns them that “...every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
For the most part, Israel had failed in its special calling as the people of God. The fruit was of poor quality and lacking in abundance. John tells them: “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees...” It was time for God to plant a different tree.
Recognizing this principle, we can see numerous lessons in the natural world displayed before us which are replicated in our lives. One of the most obvious is the cycle of life and death. All of the living creatures we see are born or hatched or reproduced in some way. They mature and grow to adulthood. Some live very short lives, even days, while many outlive the normal life span of human beings. Yet all eventually die. Certainly we don’t need to observe the animals to learn about life and death, but they serve to accentuate the truth that no creature on this planet lives forever.
What about the weather? We have lovely days of sun, blue sky and pleasant temperatures. There are chilly days with clouds, rain and drizzle. Days of snow, sleet and terrible cold. There are windstorms and pounding rain. Times when it’s hot and humid. Days when its hot and dry. Do these not serve to tell us that such will be the same in life? There will be good days with various blessings, and there will be harsh days with different troubles. Both are a part of life.
Observe the wondrous wisdom of God as He teaches us in so many different ways. “Go to the ant...” (Proverbs 6:6-11). Be blessed in your learning!
><> Jeff
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