First the blade, then the ear
Too
often we expect positive changes to take place in one fell swoop. Whether in
matters of personal sanctification, institutional reform, cultural renewal, or
transformation of the political landscape, we too often look for one dramatic event that gains us a
quick, easy, and permanent victory. But
this doesn't seem to be how God normally works.
The kingdom of God is as if a
man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and
the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself,
first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the
grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come (Mk.
4:26-29).
The
seed doesn’t produce its fruit overnight. Maturity requires growth, and growth
takes time. It is not the time to complain that no fruit is visible when the
blade first appears. We should not despise the day of small things (Zech.
4:10). The Lord promised the people of Israel that he would defeat their
enemies and drive them out of the Promised Land. He would not do it, however, in
one year, but “little by little” (Ex. 23:29-30).
The
least progress in the right direction, even if the progress seems painfully
slow, ought to be encouraged and received with gratitude and looked upon as a reason
to strive for even better things. Growth in grace is a lifelong process. Institutional
reform is often a long and arduous task. Cultural renewal takes place over generations.
It requires much more than simply winning the next election to transform the
political landscape.
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