The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
April 23, 2006
In
This Issue:
The
Early and the Latter Rain
by
Steve Klein
Don't
Sell Out
by
Phillip Shumake
The Early and the Latter Rain
Crops need moisture. They need it shortly after planting so that seeds can germinate and grow, and they need it as they grow in order to produce a useable harvest.
Crops need moisture. People need crops. But only God can provide the rain. We must rely on Him to provide it. Long ago, Zechariah advised his people to "Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone." (Zechariah 10:1)
In Deuteronomy 11:13-14, God promised the Israelites that He would send both the early and the latter rain on their crops if they would obey His commandments. He said, "And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil."
Many years later, after much disobedience on the part of the Israelites, the Lord was still willing to provide this blessing for His people if they would repent and turn to Him with all their "heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning" (Joel 2:12). If they would repent they were told that they could "Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you- The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." (Joel 2:23).
So then, God's willingness to provide the early and the latter rain demonstrates His patience and longsuffering with mankind. But it also teaches mankind a lesson about trusting in the Lord to provide for us, and patiently waiting for Him to do so. James 5:7-8 says, "Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
The blessings that we enjoy in Christ today are the early rain. The greater blessings of the latter rain and the fruitful harvest are yet to come. Be patient. Trust the Lord. Serve Him faithfully day by day. Grow. Be productive. The clouds that will bring that latter rain are building on the horizon. The coming of the day of the Lord is at hand.
-- Steve Klein
In 1st Kings 21, we find Ahab and Jezebel just searching for an opportunity to purchase Naboth's vineyard. Ahab attempted to buy and barter his way into possession of Naboth's cherished family property, but Naboth declined to sale. After Jezebel noticed the pouting and complaining of her husband, she had Naboth taken out of the picture through a plot of deception, corruption, and murder. Now Ahab got what he wanted, a beautiful vineyard right next to his palace, and he didn't even have to pay for it...or did he?
Many would say Ahab got a great deal, but this is not how the scriptures record it. "Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him." 1 Kings 21:25.
In gaining Naboth's vineyard, Ahab spent more than he even realized; he had clearly sold himself to evil. Covetousness is a dangerous sin because it leads us away from what is truly valuable- our relationship with God.
Today we are each faced with decisions like Ahab's. What does Satan use to draw us away from serving the Everlasting God? He may use possessions or something entirely different, but in the end is it really a good deal?
In Mark 8:36, Jesus reminds his followers never to sell out: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" He reminds us that to give in to Satan is to forfeit our eternal souls for temporary pleasures. Don't let Satan fool you into thinking he has a good deal. In Luke 12, Jesus warns us about the dangers of coveting by saying, "Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
Jesus basically says, Don't sell out for so little! There is nothing in the world worth giving up your soul for.
Place your trust, your hope, and your very soul in the hands of our loving Father in heaven. It is God who has promised and proven that he will richly reward his servants, if we will only seek after Him with all our hearts.
--Phillip Shumake
Via Bible Insight, Volume 8, April 2005