Harvest Time... the Wayfarer 8/19/17

Harvest Time
8/19/17

John 12:23-26

King James Version (KJV)

²³ And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

As Jesus faced the cross to come, He reminded those about Him that new could only replace old once old surrendered to purpose that allowed for new.

What is sown, grows with the death of the seed that is sown, growing to abundance  in multiplication of a single seed into many of the same kind of seed sewn.

What is sewn in life is amplified in death, magnified and multiplied as fields of wheat are produced from the sparse number of seed being planted.

The fewer the seeds planted, the smaller the harvest to be expected.

A good planter chooses his seed carefully, winnowing it down to the best of the best, carefully assuring that what is planted is not mixed with unintended seed of a different kind.

He chooses the ground in which it is to be planted with equal care, looking to the irrigation of that ground, the fertility of that ground, the nourishment that ground can supply the seed, and the type and amount of fertilizer needed to produce the quality harvest desired.

A simple short trip to a grocery store I choose to frequent reminded me again of the harvest, soon to come, as I drove past field after field of both corn and beans on my way there.

I commented on the beauty of the crops that grew well, well tended, properly irrigated, and properly drained as well in some areas, while there was sparsity and stunted growth in other fields where weeds flourished starving the intended crops, often the difference seen from one side of the road to the other, and indeed, even from one field to the next on the same side of the road in adjoining fields.

I remarked on the difference seen in the short span of time since having made the same trip, having noted the lack of growth expected at that time, comparative to years past when conditions were more conducive to that growth.

The same holds true of the harvest expected of a far more important "crop" than that of the corn and beans, both growing close for those recognizing the ripeness of the fields passed daily and continually, as the growth or lack of growth is either noticed or ignored while the harvest draws ever nearer.

ALL of those fields will submit their produce, some in bounty, some in sparsity, once the combines begin their process of "bringing in the crops".

Some of the gathered grain and beans will be deemed better than others of its kind, but will retain worth despite their sparsity.

Weeds and chaff will be separated from each, in quantity to maintain quality of the "crop" being harvested.

Some fields will produce far more of those weeds and chaff in proportion to the desired crop than others, dependent on the attention given early on in the growing season to the nurture and care given the field... the cultivation and fertilization provided early on for its growth, or lack thereof.

The productivity of the harvest begins at planting, but is not solely determined at planting alone.

The harvest is accomplished by laborers, as is the growth that leads to that harvest.

The labor needed must be expended WHEN IT IS NEEDED, or inevitably, no matter the initial care given, and the final effort expended to bring those crops in.

The only fields that produce nothing in the coming harvest are those that lie fallow, unplanted, untended with no expectation of production.

 Matthew 9:35-38

King James Version (KJV)

³⁵ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

³⁶ But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

³⁷ Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

³⁸ Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Let us not be uncaring or ignorant of the harvest at hand, but rather willing laborers, that the quantity and quality be increased proportionally, and each productive plant in every field be gathered from among the dross  so often obvious.

The seed planted was the best, the growth of that seed remains  dependent upon the labor. The gathering of that harvest is not ours, but what is harvested is given to our care.

Just as the farmer plants as many fields as he has available, so too does he give attention to each according to expectation of growth. That expectation gives priority of attention to where it can be most effective.

Jesus died and rose again for ALL, His attention was and is on ALL.

During His ministry, he concentrated his efforts on the neglected, capable of growth to fruition,  rather than those in need of no attention, or refusing to recognize the need for that attention.

The seed planted was the simple message brought by HIM, the expected harvest the single commandment left by HIM, only if the message was heard and heeded, nourished  to bring forth the increase demanded by HIM.

 Matthew 3:8-12

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

⁹ And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

¹⁰ And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

¹² Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

John spoke these words in preparation of the arrival of HIS, (CHRIST JESUS') ministry.

That ministry did not end at the cross, nor did it end at the tomb that could not hold Him.

That ministry continued, continues and shall continue until the arrival of the harvest.

We should be no less adamant  in expectation of that harvest, nor less willing to labor toward that harvest that lies ahead.

As it draws closer, effort should intensify to assure the abundancy expected from each and every plant grown from the seed planted by HIM.

With or without that effort, the harvest will draw closer each day until its arrival and the reaping begun.

2 Timothy 1:12King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer