There is talk of desiring a revival in my church. It’s ironic, that I have just been thinking about revival in my own life. It seems I’ve come full circle to when I was in my early years of being a Christian. After having gone through many of life’s stages, now, as was the case in the early years, I have an insatiable desire to know more about God and his Christ. I am, again, more aware of my actions and whether they measure up to Biblical teaching. My inner being is more awakened, more joyful, more in tune to spiritual things.
It occurred to me that this experience in my life (and other individual Christians) can be likened to the former rain and latter rain that is talked about in the Bible. The former and latter rain in ancient times is in reference to agriculture and to the harvest cycle. The former rain was needed to soften the soil so that seed could be planted. The latter rain came, several months later, and in effect matured the crop so that it would be ready to harvest.
The church teaches that the early rain resulted in the harvest of the first followers of Christ (first century?) and the latter rain is occurring now with the multitudes being brought into the kingdom of God by the “raining” of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh. At least that is how I understand it. There may be variations but you get the point. My thought is this: could the former rain be the time in an individual’s life, when they first receive the Word (seed) in their softened heart (soil). The result is they start growing spiritually, “first the blade then the ear”, etc. There may even be dry spells where there is not much growth in the Christian’s life. But then comes the latter rain, a deeper understanding of the Word of God as a result of hearing and reading the Bible (some may even call it sanctification). This “rain” results in the Christian bringing forth mature fruit ready to be harvested.
Jesus referred to the harvest in more than one instance. He told the parable of the sower, for example. He explained that the seed is the Word of God; the sower is the Son of Man. You know the rest: the seed fell on various types of soil and did not flourish. The seed that fell on good ground brought forth good fruit and was harvested at the end of the world by the angels.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Mat. 13:23 & 39
The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
The seed, according to the parable, that develops deep roots will not perish (Mat. 13:21) when drought comes. We all as individuals go through dry spells in our life. But if you had a good foundation in the Word of God, you will not perish when hardship comes but will endure till the latter rain.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James 5:7-8
How important it is for Christians to know the Bible!
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Amos 8:11-12
So back to the beginning thought: we are to let the Word of God flourish in our soul, produce the fruits of the spirit that mature for harvest.
Perhaps the harvest takes place one shock of corn at a time. ( I corresponded with a gentleman of the preterest school of theology who taught just that: that the coming of the Lord is experienced for each individual at death).
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
I Cor. 15:23
For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Mark 4:28-29
My hope is that even now, fruit is being brought forth in my life and the harvest is near. Maranatha (Our Lord, come!)
