Job 13:25

A Driven Leaf

A leaf driven to and fro. Job 13:25 (AV).

If you take a country walk just now, or go down any road where there are trees, you will find my text. It may wear a crimson dress, or a brown one, or a gold, but it will be there sure enough along with many others of its kind.

Have you guessed the text, I wonder. It is “a leaf driven to and from.” You will find it in the Book of Job, but I'm not going to tell you the chapter or the verse because I want you to look for it.

I was watching some of those leaves the other day and they gave me a message to take to you. Would you like to know what they said?

1. Well, first they said, “Tell the boys and girls to be glad.”

They were such happy little fellows and they seemed to have so very little to make them happy. I wondered if they never felt dull. But they answered, “Not in the least! We've had a fun time all summer up in the sunshine and the breeze, and this is a little bit of a let-down, but what's the use of worrying? There's a nice gust of wind, so we're off for a scamper.”

And away they went rolling and frolicking, dancing and prancing down the path.

And so the leaves driven to and fro say to you, “Be glad.” If you cut your finger, or break your toy, cheer up! The world isn't coming to an end because of that. Keep a bright face when things go a bit wrong. That's the plucky thing to do. It isn't always the people with the fewest troubles who smile the most.

2. But next the leaves driven to and fro said to me, “Tell the boys and girls to have a purpose. Just look at us. We are at the mercy of every wind that blows. Sometimes we are scuttled away in one direction, then we are whisked away in another, and next minute we are whirled round and round in a circle. We have no stability of our own, and so we are influenced by the first breeze that comes along.”

And they added, “We are just a picture of the people who have no purpose in life, the people who are easily led astray. They are very lovable often, but they have no high aim of their own, and so they just do exactly what those around them are doing. They are influenced by whatever wind is blowing. If it is a good wind they are good, but if it is a bad wind they are bad. So tell the boys and girls to have a purpose.”

3. And lastly they said, “Tell the boys and girls that God has a purpose for them. God has a purpose for us if we will lie still and rest. He will make us into a warm blanket to cover the seeds and the plants from the winter cold. He will send the rain and the snow and the worms to work on us and to turn us into food for the plants; and we shall be built up into some beautiful flower, or some fresh green leaf next summer.

“And God has work for the boys and girls too if they will lie still and rest. If they will come to rest in Jesus, if they will make up their minds to be His disciples and let Him do with them as He will, then He has a glorious work for them to do. He can use even them to make the world a better and a happier place, to make His kingdom of love come on earth.”