A LESSON FROM THE GARDEN....Understanding important truths from the Bible….

John 15:16  NKJV

  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Jesus’ statement is to the Apostles in particular and to the elect in general.  As to the elect, because they are the chosen ones the specifics of the demand remains the same.  We are to be fruitful.  This is a continuing demand of the Scriptures, both Old Testament and New, that has lately impressed me with its importance.

Working in my garden last year and this one, I have observed some lessons from plants there.  This year for some reason has not been a good year for me with anything other than cucumbers.

I began observing my cucumber plants last year and continued to do this in the present seasons.  Let me share some lessons I have learned.

1.  Though the seed may all be planted at the same time, they do not all “come up” at the same time.  Some may come out of the ground much quicker than others.

Lesson:  We do not all act the same way with the implanted Word. .  Some respond quicker, other slower.  But they are not to be judged by each other.

2. Some began producing much quicker.  It could be said, “Of course, the ones that ‘came up’ first”.  But that is not always so.  Sometimes a later plant will blossom and produce before a larger older plant.

Lesson:  The production of a plant is somewhat a mystery and it is not governed by external circumstances but by an internal impetus.  Even so Christians are fruitful in very odd ways, some faster, some slower.

3.  When production has begun in all the plants, some plants are far more productive than others.  This may have something to do with externals such as water and sunshine, but not completely.  It seems to be a particular ability of that plant.

Lesson:  All believers do not produce at the same level.  The fruit of believers varies, some 30, some 60, and some 100.

4.  All plants are productive.  They may vary in the amount they produce, but they will produce.

Lesson:  The purpose of a believer is to be productive.  Whatever else may occur, they all produce.

5.  Plants produce at different levels at different times.  Sometimes one plant will produce more than another does.  Again, the other that produced less will increase and the one that produced more will decrease.  This may be due more to internal influences than to external.

Lesson:  Christians are fruitful at different levels.  Internal forces can influence their production and can vary.  But it should be remembered that they are not in competition.  They are to do what they can do, not what their neighbor does.

6.  Plants get old.  As they get older, they produce less until they become unproductive.  Usually when this occurs, the plant appears close to being dead.

Lesson:  Christians, as they get older, become less productive.  Their infirmity can be more or less evident.  But age affects productivity.

7.  Plants at the end of their season die.

Lesson:  Psalm 116:15  Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.