Evergreens

“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of the Creator.” Col 3:8-10

Unless a tree is an evergreen it is going to experience a beautiful and colorful change in the Fall. During the rest of the year chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors.

As we allow the worlds “chlorophyll” to fill our minds and hearts we become evergreens not allowing our true and beautiful characteristics to be displayed. Instead we become a landscape of the same in attitude without standing apart and beautifully reflecting ourselves for whom God created us to be. Through the darkness we experience in adversity we tap into the deeply masked ability of God who pumps hope, encouragement and revelations through our hearts and minds. The more we empty ourselves of the world and all of its beliefs the more our true God-given beauty can be unmasked and display our “reds” of compassion, our “golds” of love and our “oranges” of forgiveness.

We will become a landscape of beauty, individuality and uniqueness on God’s mountain.