We are blessed to live in a state with all four seasons. A season is a division in time – a subdivision marked by changes in weather, ecology, and hours of daylight. It results from the yearly revolution of the earth around the sun and the lifting of the earth’s axis. Notice its use is in relationship to the sun, just like our usefulness, fruitfulness is dependent on our relationship to another son – the Son of God; that He’s the center, not we. Genesis 1:14: “Then God said, ‘let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years.” on the fourth day of creation, creator Elohim makes the two lights: sun for day and moon for night. Notice, that there was already the light source which lit up day one – and that was Jesus, the light of the world, so these lights are to rule and organize the days and seasons, so that there is order set in place.
Seasonal renewal – Daniel 2:20-21. God has ordered this world to function within seasons/times and those seasons serve different functions: spring is the season of the seed/flowering, where the northern hemisphere is exposed to a more direct sunlight; summer is the heat and growth; fall is the harvest; winter is the slumber of creation. Daniel, who was interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, is referring to God (the name of God here is Elaha – the adorable one – and is also known as elah —pronounced elaw). This name is used throughout Daniel as the God who is with his people in their captivity. No matter what the season of life, the Creator made Himself part of it: He is the seed of life; He is the sun that allows us to grow; He is the harvester; He does not slumber nor sleep, but holds His creation during that time. Daniel’s portion here reminds us that God
The meaning of epochs (zeman) is “appointed times of his purpose”, but when the awning and covering is removed, the sun will shine in its brilliance and only those of like substance will survive eternally.
Seasons, a witness in nature – Acts 14:15 — 17. A witness tells what he/she knows, so the Creator chose to first speak through His work – His creation. He divided it up, so man could see a process in nature and very naturally equate that with God’s spiritual purpose: born, grow, age, die. It would be a visual reminder annually of the progression of the prophetic ages. So here, where Paul and Barnabas were treated as though they were the gods of this Roman Age, Paul cites the truth that will lead them to the risen christ. He implores the listeners to leave this foolishness and consider the real God, the one who did the following:
- He made Paul and Barnabas and all of us the same as our listeners (vs 15). The phrase “same nature” is the Greek word “homoiopathes” (pronounced hom-oyos-pathes), meaning “with like feeling, passion or affection; resembling, and of equal rank.” it comes from two words “homoios”, meaning “resembling, like” and pascho, meaning “passions, feeling”. It’s where we get paschal lamb, passion of Christ. He understands our humanity, because He’s been there. Also includes word meaning: to suffer, to be acted on. We are not to be worshipped, but to lead people to the One who is to be worshipped, Jesus, the passionate Savior.
- He reminds mankind to turn to God. “To turn” is the Greek word “epistrepho”, meaning “to turn, return” (pronounced ep-ee-stref-o). It comes from two words: epi means “on, to, on basis of” and “strepho”, meaning “to turn, change, to change direction”. The seasons should remind all that harvest is coming and God will judge between the wheat (true fruit of His) and the tares (thrown).
- Verse 16 reminds us that God, in his mercy, allowed the generation of nations to go their way, but like the Israelites at the time of the judges (they all did what was right in their own eyes), that season will be over.
- He left His witness in this creation. The word “witness” is “amarturos”, meaning “testify, witness”. It is pronounced “am-ar-too-ros” and it is the word where we get our word martyr. Certainly Jesus, himself, was the ultimate witness to the love of God to this world. He left a four-fold message here: spring, summer, fall, and winter – and the order of night and day, with seasons unfolding. It is interesting that people testify to the actual works of God in creation daily, yet they ignore the doer, who is God. They do, as Romans 1 says: “…they worship the creation (verses 18-20;25) and try to alter the nature of the Creator to their level. Any God on our level can’t save us; the God of salvation is he who was with us, but above us.
- He showed kindness to us in His creation. The better translation here is “He showed good works” and it is the Hebrew word “agathoergeo” (pronounced agath-er-gheh-o”, meaning “to perform good deeds”. It comes from two words: agathos, meaning “intrinsically good”, and ergon “works”. God did good works because it is His nature to do so – He is the only good one. Remember this, though: even in His good deeds in creation, man’s depravity was not solved. It needed God to take a more direct route – so that mankind would have direct view of the son (son of God) and the seed of the woman would take root in their lives and inhabit the springtime of new life.
- Because He’s the head of this creation/church, we find the words “time or season” here. This is the Greek word “kairos” (pronounced kahee-ros), and it means “a measure of time – large or small portion, a fitting season, opportunity.” it is referring to the seasons of the year in which fruits grow and ripen – it is a limited period of time, and is the period of the prescribed time by God to the nations, bounded by their rise and fall. Tucked into the seasons and times is God’s timetable for the future. This word “kairos” comes from word “kara”, meaning “head”. Together the ultimate rendering is that within the seasons of God’s work, things will come to a head, for they’ve been created to display His divine will – God’s final will and disposition.
- Because he’s looking for that crop. “Crops” is the Hebrew word “karpophoros”, meaning “fruit bearing, productive”. It comes from two words: “karpos” means “fruit, profit (in partnership with Christ)”, and “phero” means “to bring forth, bear, and carry”. In the end of the age, God will judge the fruit bearing produce of Galatians 5:22-23, and see who has allowed the Spirit to bring forth and carry that fruit to a godless world.
Seasons of hope – I Thessalonians 5:1-3 -the season of life on this planet will come to an end, sooner than later. The apostle is writing to Thessalonica to be ready. They’ll say peace and love, but it won’t be the fruit of the spirit we’re supposed to grow. It will be the peace and love of this world system, which is dead works unto an eternal death. God gave us seasons so we could see the order of His thought process.