Keys – Like the Leaves of Autumn

One day I had several errands to run in town. It was a sunny, warm day for early November. Because the weather had been consistently warmer than the normal average for that time of year, the trees still held most of their leaves and the grass was still green and required mowing from time to time.

As I left the house, I noticed that a few leaves had fallen from the big tree in the front yard. I wondered how soon they would all fall and I would have to do something to get them chopped up or raked up. I left at mid-morning and didn’t return until mid-afternoon.

When I arrived home and turned into the driveway, the sight that welcomed me was absolutely overwhelming. Like an instrument in an orchestra directed by the conductor, “all together now,” the big tree had dropped hundreds of leaves in the yard. In spots the leaves were deep enough to be over the tops of my shoes and it still had plenty of leaves yet to drop.

The phrase “like leaves of autumn” comes to mind when I think of this day. Jesus said that we are to “teach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). This is accomplished through Bible studies, witnessing, handing out literature, cooking schools, but mostly by how we live our lives.

But the Spirit of Prophecy also tells us of another way in which we can share the gospel. “This is a work that should be done. The end is near. Already much time has been lost, when these books should have been in circulation. Sell them far and near. Scatter them like the leaves of autumn. This work is to continue without the forbiddings of any one. Souls are perishing out of Christ. Let them be warned of His soon appearing in the clouds of heaven.” The Review and Herald, August 13, 1908. [Emphasis supplied.]

Imagine, Bibles, The Desire of Ages, Steps to Christ, The Great Controversy, The Ministry of Healing all blanketing the world like the leaves in my front yard.