The Season of Summer of the Soul
I grew up in a small town in the Red River Valley of Minnesota. Breckenridge was a location known for its flat terrain, wind, and harsh winters. But that made the summer months a veritable gift from heaven! I spent summers practically living outside. Summers seemed endless! In the golden hue of my childhood memories, it never rained in the summer. I walked or biked virtually every mile of Breckenridge—exploring streets, rivers, parks, and forests. I played baseball, biked to the swimming pool, and spent time with friends day after day. Every day dawned more splendid than the one before. Looking back, I feel like I grew up in my own slice of heaven. And to this day, summer mornings serve as a reminder of God’s creative beauty and the promise of eternal delight. As I think about finding Jesus in the seasons of life, summer directs my heart to God’s promise of heaven.
A Foretaste of Heaven
In some ways summer is a foretaste of heaven—a rehearsal of paradise; a preview of the New Heaven and New Earth found in Revelation 21 and 22. Late in his life, God allowed the Apostle John a glimpse into eternity. In the book of Revelation John describes the New Jerusalem as heaven’s capital city. Revelation 21:1 and 22: 1-2 says,
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. The angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. On each side of the river stood the Tree of Life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
That's one amazing tree! And, it's just one tree! But it stands on both sides of the river. It bears twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. So, it appears that heaven will have a progression of months. However, the cycle of seasons will be no more. Each month will usher in another month of summertime. It's endless summer in heaven! Maybe that’s not a big deal for those who live in California or Florida. But for a Minnesota kid, it’s mind-blowing!
Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus explicitly equates the kingdom of God with summer. In Luke 21:29–31, Jesus says…
“Then he gave them this illustration: ‘Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near.’ ”
Jesus makes a connection between summer and heaven. Words and images we associate with summer are found in heaven: fruitfulness, daylight, rest, play, wonder, festival, joy, reunion will be heaven experiences. The Bible describes God’s eternal kingdom as a banquet, a homecoming, a joyful reunion, a true Sabbath, a full and final reprieve from life's misery, drudgery, and loss. It's endless summer in heaven!
Summertime of the Soul
When you're in a summertime of the soul, you experience vitality and connectedness, rest and play and fruitfulness, warmth and shade, generous daylight, and a pure pleasure in what God has made. It's the opposite of winter. In soul winter, God and others may seem remote; spiritual sluggishness is a daily reality. In summer of the soul, God and others are intimately near and abundant life surrounds you. The grace of Jesus imparts a foretaste of heaven and a season of time to savor a bit of what you'll ultimately experience for all eternity: a time when God is fully present, reigning in justice and mercy; when we need no sun or moon, because God is the light that shines day and night; a time when the tree of life produces twelve crops of fruit, one for each month.
In this life, the summer of the soul, brief as they usually are, hint at the reality of a New Heaven and New Earth created by Jesus, and without end.
The Invitation to a Satisfying Life
Each moment in heaven will be abundant, rich and satisfying. However, in this lifetime, God’s presence in your life is the steady source to abundance regardless of circumstances. In John 10:10, Jesus said…
“The thief’s (Devil’s) purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
I have found that Jesus gives summertime seasons of the soul, where you experience heightened glimpses of heaven’s constant rich and satisfying life. That which will be a continual reality in heaven can be experienced in heightened moments and seasons in this life. For instance, when you’re involved with a vibrant church or a household of true Christ-followers, life, as it is meant to be, is rich and more satisfying because you, along with others are living with God at the center.
I’ll never forget my first experiences with Christian people in a Bible-believing local church. They were committed to living life with Jesus at the center. As a 25-year-old, I had never before been among men who didn't speak in demeaning ways about women, who didn't curse a blue streak, who didn't guzzle beer and had a genuine love for God. I didn't know men like those from the church existed. But I spent enough time in their company to know that prayer and Scripture were utmost in their lives, that speaking lovingly of their wives and kids was normal, that serving others was common, and having a good time laughing didn’t come from jokes that were nasty and disgusting. I experienced summer of the soul as a young believer.
Back in Revelation 21, the Apostle John wrote this in vv. 3-5 to describe the New Heaven and Earth of eternity…
“I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ ”
In summertime of soul, it feels like heaven on earth. You hear God with crystal clarity. You experience him new and intimately each day. Your conversations with fellow believers or with unbelieving people are immersed in the presence of Jesus. Scripture jumps off the page as you read the Bible. God is in your seeing and hearing, in your speaking and understanding. He will tangibly grow spiritual fruit in your life. The world around you seems light, bright, and full of color. It’s the warmth of summertime of the soul. It’s a glimpse of heaven, and it’s wonderful!
A Glimpse of Heaven
I can tell you that I do not live in a perpetual summertime of the soul. Just as the seasons of the earth faithfully cycle through, so do our spiritual seasons. However, the bliss of spiritual summertime will periodically be yours in your journey with Christ. There will be moments and seasons where Jesus is astonishingly palpable! Those seasons are moments of God’s grace given to encourage, to heal, to supercharge your soul and to grow your relationship with Jesus. Revel in the summertime of soul! It’s God’s gift to you.
Next Steps
1. Summertime of the soul is a season, sometimes a day, an event, a moment. Receive it as a reprieve from winter-soul or the gift of a mountaintop spiritual experience that God is giving you to enjoy and grow in.
2. You won’t stay in the summertime of the soul. The temptation is to manufacture your own mountaintop spiritual experiences. Understand, if Jesus isn’t the source of your rich and satisfying season, it’s fake and real spiritual fruit will not come from it. The lasting kind of abundant life Jesus promised comes from your steadfast faith and enduring trust and love for God during all seasons of life.
