The fall season is on the horizon and it will usher in a change of scenery. Soon there will be crisp mornings and cool evenings. Lawns will be covered with leaves and mountains will be array of colored trees. The changing of our earthly seasons is a gentle heavenly reminder of Ecclesiastes 3.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” –Ecclesiastes 3:1

Each season demands a response. As fall settles in, soon we will trade in our tank tops for sweaters and flip flops for boots. Many will put up the lawn mowers for rakes. Again, each season demands a response.

What is the season in our world, in our nation? Our world and our nation, is in a difficult season. A season of sickness, death, suffering, strife, discord, race reckoning, economic and financial insecurity, and mental distress. Every season demands a response and this season demands a response from the Church and the people of God. It’s the season for the Church to arise!

Let’s turn our attention back to Ecclesiastes; King Solomon so eloquently expands on the thought that there is a season and time for every purpose under the heaven. 

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A time to mourn, and a time to dance
Our nation has experienced unprecedented loss, sickness, and death. Numerous are hurting from the loss of a loved one or friend. Others are mourning the loss of a business or normalcy of life. The people of God are called to mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). Are we doing our part to mourn with those who mourn? As we mourn today, I’m certain there will come a time to dance! 

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak    
It’s time for the church to speak and stand with the hurting, suffering, and marginalized. Now is not the time for silence. The world needs to see the church and people of God speak up against injustice and racism (no matter how subtle). “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr. If the church, is going to impact the world, for generations to come; the church must show its relevance, by speaking at the most difficult times, for those with the smallest or weakest of voices. 

A time to love, and a time to hate
The world needs to see God’s love. May people experience the love of God through our actions. God commands us in 1 John 3:18, to not love in word or speech, but in action and truth. Those best equipped to display the love God, are those who have experienced His love. It is our time, it is the perfect season, to show forth God’s love in the land. The Church must arise and do the hard work of truly loving, in action not just words.

How does Ecclesiastes 3 speak to your heart? What is God calling you to do, during this season? What cross is God calling you to bear? Now is the season – it is the time for you and the Church to arise!