These words were spoken by King David as he encouraged God’s people to praise the Lord for all His wonderful works. It seems so fitting that he used trees as an example, for they are an important part of God’s creation and in their beauty seem to “sing out” to their Creator. Beautiful autumn leaves plainly show this.
Although many trees keep their leaves or needles year-round, many species drop their leaves in autumn. But before they fall there is usually a brilliant and varied display of color in these leaves. Red maples and sugar maples, along with oaks, blaze with fiery red, orange and gold; dogwoods turn a shade of purple; sassafras take on scarlet and orange; poplars and aspens become golden yellow. Other species add their various beautiful colors and make the forests almost appear to be on fire.
Leaves are to a tree what lungs are to humans, controlling the passage of air and moisture to the tree. Chlorophyll in the leaves is like blood to humans, converting the water and air into living tissue. Sunlight provides the energy for this process.
Under the guidance of the Creator, every leaf is a miniature chemical factory, performing simply and efficiently in supplying sugar as part of the tree’s food (the rest comes from the roots). Leaves continually give off moisture which, along with their shade, provide coolness on a hot day. The leaf’s chemical activity absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and in exchange gives off oxygen, so vital to air-breathing man, animals, birds and insects. Without the forests and other plants of the world, there would not be sufficient oxygen to sustain all this life.
As fall approaches, a small ring of tissue begins to dry where the leaf stem is attached to the tree. It is at this point, called the abscission layer, that the leaf will separate from the tree. Little by little this layer interferes with the leaf’s processes, and soon the green color fades away as its chlorophyll is cut off. Then the spectacular colors appear - red, orange, purple, gold, yellow, etc. These colors have been in the leaf all along, but the green chlorophyll has kept them from being seen. Finally, the leaves are forced off by wind and rain, and a corky seal closes off where the stem was attached. A large maple tree will drop about a million leaves which, returning to the soil, enrich it for use by the roots.
What a treat it is to be present when this wonderful change takes place in these trees. The Bible tells us, “The Lord hath made all things for Himself” (Proverbs 16:44The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Proverbs 16:4)), and He surely has great pleasure in seeing this lovely display. However, this beauty is only temporary, but we are assured that “the glory of the Lord shall endure forever” (Psalm 104:3131The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. (Psalm 104:31)). All who know Him as their Saviour will be in the presence of His glory and beauty for all eternity. Will you be there?
OCTOBER 8, 1995
ML-10/08/1995