Fall is in the air! The temperatures have dropped. The days are getting shorter. The leaves are beginning to turn colors and gingerly sail to the ground and will soon crumble under our feet as we walk on them. Even the grass is succumbing to the signs of fall as its growth has slowed and lawns need mowing less frequently.

But then again, is it really fall? I mean, after all, the days get noticeably shorter when calendar changes to September. The leaves were already turning colors and loose from the lack of rain. The grass in the yard is about the same as the leaves…no rain, no grass.

However there is one other factor yet to be turning mentioned, the temperatures. September is the month known as the beginning of Indian Summers and it comes to full fruition in October. Nature teases us with the cooler temperatures for a day or two, maybe even a week and then WHAM! Summer is back with temperatures in the low 90s. Then those temperatures hang around for a week or so. Cooler temps return and so do our hopes of fall.

This pattern continues for most of September and October. It is called Faux Fall. The weather gives all the indications of the arrival of fall only to have them shattered by the return of summer. That calendar date that informs us of the first day of fall has arrived means really nothing. We wake up and are grid locked as to what to wear. Should I wear jeans or shorts? Will it be a long sleeved shirt day or should I wear a short sleeved Polo? Hmmm, let’s see, tennis shoes or flip flops?

Ugh! So many decisions and if you get it wrong you will either freeze or melt!

This Faux Fall is for the birds. We get all our hopes and dreams up only to have them shattered.

We get out the hot chocolate or pumpkin spice and dream of the campfire with the fixings for S’mores only to shelve them for another couple of weeks. Then along comes the cooler temps with new hopes emerging thinking that this might be the day fall truly begins.

Last week I truly thought this was it, fall is here. I go the garage and dig out the life-size scare crow with concrete feet (keeps from blowing over). I go to the barn and dig out the pumpkin decorations, the “Happy Fall Y’all” sign and a few other assorted fall yard decorations and set them up. Two days later it is almost 90 degrees and I thinking “Really?” I was beginning to question my thinking and actions.

But, it is like this every year. It is Oklahoma. You would think we would know this. Yet, every year we get the jackets out, find the fall sweaters and maybe throw a few interior decorations out hoping this year will be different.

Faux Fall…what interesting terminology. Faux meaning fake. There is a spiritual side to this (probably wondering about that). Jesus told us one day He would return. Until that time comes we should be ready. It seems for some wild reason that when people predict Jesus will return it will fall in October. As a matter of fact, an internet search revealed that Jesus was predicted to return in 1874, 1914, 1975, 1988 (88 reasons in ’88) & 1989 (calendar correction made), 2000 (New Millennium), 2020 (Covid) and as recent as this year. But all came up empty.

And Jim Jones in Jonestown, Guyana claimed to be resurrected Jesus and many drank poisoned Kool-Aid. Men, women and children died. David Koresh in Waco Texas led many to a fiery death with the belief that he was the Messiah. And let us not forget the number in the Heaven’s Gate cult in California that committed suicide believing they would be transported by a spaceship following the Hale-Bopp comet’s appearance.

All of these believing a Faux Jesus. But Jesus Himself told us that no one knows when He is coming back except the Father (Matt. 24:36 & Mark 13:32). Jesus did tell of the signs that would present themselves before His return: wars, rumors of wars, natural disasters, earthquakes, famines, increase of lawlessness and false (faux) prophets and others claiming to be Jesus Himself and a few other signs.

Just like the Faux Fall with its signs that can make us believe fall has arrived, so there will be many FAUX JESUS saying they are Jesus getting many hopes up. But Jesus’ words in Matt. 24:5 say that many will come in my name and deceive many.

Faux Fall gets our hopes up and we get disappointed. Don’t let the same happen with Jesus’ return. We need to remember that fall always (emphasis “always”) arrives. Sometimes it is early, other times it is late. Sometimes it is right on time. But, it always arrives. Likewise, Jesus will come back, we just do not know when. What we do know is that we are to be ready when He does come back.

Now where is my jacket? Bro. Tim