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| The Conversion of
a Farmer ~ David Sims
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T he will of God has been
made plain. “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.”
(1Thessalonians 4:3) This is to involve our entire being. “And the very
God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and
soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.” (1Thessalonians 5:23)
But the question is how is this accomplished. The Bible is clear on one
point, that “without Me ye can do nothing.” But that doesn't mean that
with Him we do nothing also. Only God can put life in the seed and make
it germinate and grow. It is an utter impossibility for man to
accomplish this. But that doesn't mean that man has nothing to do. The
farmer must plow the soil, fertilize, plant, water, weed, and harvest.
If the farmer did not do this, the power of God alone would not produce
a crop for him.
So in spiritual things. A transformed life, a character like Christ, a
sanctified, holy mind, will never come if we wait on God to do what He
expects us to do.
The roots of the plants hidden from view illustrate the invisible
communion of the soul with Christ. The ground can be full of nutrients
and water. The plant can be drenched with the rain from heaven, but if
it doesn't use its roots and absorb the life-giving dew, it will not
benefit. It will die.
So with our spiritual life.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2
Growth is constantly going on in the natural world. If a plant stops
growing, it dies. So with us. We must have that communion with Christ
through His word and prayer, and be constantly growing, or we will die.
A plant receives its nourishment on an ongoing basis. It is not enough
to receive it one time. So we must receive life from God's word
continually to sustain our spiritual lives.
There is a law of cause and effect.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap.”(Galatians 6:7)
It is the same in spiritual things.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1:23)
If we want a mind sanctified and holy, we must first plant the good seed
- the thoughts, or the mind of Christ, expressed in His word.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philippians
2:5)
The seed we sow, the food we give our mind, and the vigilance we
exercise in guarding the mind, will determine our character.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind...” (Romans 12:2)
Our minds are made up of everything that we have ever put in them, just
as a computer is the sum total of all that you have put into it.
There is no such thing as a plant that grows to maturity
instantaneously. Neither is there any such thing as instantaneous
sanctification. Sanctification is an on-going growth, which will
continue as long as life shall last.
Just as the plant grows stronger as it endures the blast of the storm,
the cold wind, and the hot sun, so God allows us to be placed in
circumstances that will strengthen the character and make us strong.
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans
8:38-39)
“That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:7)
If the farmer finds his soil to be poor, he does not remove all his soil
and start over. No! He plants crops intended to send their roots deep
and bring up the good soil. He amends the soil with nutrients.
Gradually, the soil is enriched and ready to produce a wonderful
harvest. So, we are to develop righteous characters in the nature which
we now posses.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which
is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)
What shall we do!? Let us not waste any more precious time in developing
evil characters, but
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on
things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2) |
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