Fire or Garner? Choose Wisely!

For the Lord our God shall come
And shall take His harvest home
From His field shall in that day
All offenses purge away
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Come, Ye Thankful People Come 1844
By: Henry Alford (1810-1871)

Listen to this modern version of this seasonal hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this seasonal prepare yourself to come and praise. Prepare yourself but also be ready to issue to eh call to others to join you. What better time than this season of Thanksgiving? Let’s think about this.

Fire

When God gathers His harvest in at the end of the age there will be two different fates awaiting that which was growing in the field. Fire is the first. The tares will be cast into the fire to be burned.

The tares represent the souls of those who have not yielded their lives to God. They are the sons of the evil one. They never chose to become sons of God.

Their fate? The fires of hell.

Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast

…and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42 ESV

There will be wonderful developments for us at the harvest but the rest of what will happen will be awful for those who do not follow our King. They and their deeds will be thrown into a fiery furnace. How terrible it will be to spend an eternity there away from this gracious King.

Jesus is going to have His angels throw all those offensive things into a fire that will burn them eternally without ever consuming them entirely. If you think that sounds horrible you are absolutely right. Is there anyone you need to introduce to your King to spare them this fate?

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the harvest. When you consider the fate of the tares it should prompt us to be ready, and to want to help others be ready as well. Pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, help me introduce someone to Jesus.” 

Garner

We will avoid the fires of hell and that is very good news! But there is even better news in store for us. Not only are we spared from hell, we are ushered into heaven!

Did you notice the qualifying adjective used to describe us? Fruitful. We are healthy ears, true ears, if we are productive.

It begs the question, “Are all ears fruitful?” Every ear of corn is made up of numerous kernels. Each those kernels has the potential to grow into a new ear of corn. So, every cob of corn has the potential to produce many new ears of corn.

The same could be said of us. We have the potential to produce and be fruitful. That allows us to accomplish the purpose God has for us.

But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:43 ESV

We will be gathered in to enjoy the inheritance the righteous, shining like the sun in His kingdom. Do you have ears to hear and receive this promise today? This is the kind of hearing where you put into action what you have heard. How will you do that today?

Fruitful ears. Ears which produce fruit. He who has ears to hear…let him produce much fruit. If we are healthy we should be reproducing. So are you? Are you helping others to find a place in this kingdom of fruit producers? If so, you and they can look forward to eternity with God.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about how fruitful you are. Are there things in your life that are keeping you from being fruitful? Are you willing to let them go? Pray simply, “Lord, help me be fruitful.“

Lord, thank You for the reminder that I need to be ready for Your return. Not only for my own good, but for the good of those who I need to point to you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Fruitful Thinking!

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Image Attribution
Give His angels charge at last In the fire the tares to cast – https://www.cmz-castingmediaforzion.com/post/the-mystery-revealed-in-the-parable-of-the-wheat-and-the-tares
But the fruitful ears to store In His garner evermore – https://pixabay.com/photos/corn-food-stored-autumn-nature-3760924/