The Full Corn

by Sergio Valori

uite often the Lord Jesus used the symbolism of agriculture to impart spiritual principles and teach the ways of His Kingdom. Such terms as "sower", "field", "corn of wheat", "harvest" and others are repeatedly found in His teachings.

Our text refers to one of the most important progressions in His Kingdom - that of growth and development unto maturity. In all of what we call "nature", we see this principle at work. Seeds are sown and watered. Plants sprout and grow, and ultimately, harvest time arrives.

The farmer labors long and patiently in hope that the process of fertilizing, sowing and watering will bring him a satisfying result. It is also thus with our Heavenly Father. He, along with His servants sows, waters and works in various ways. Then the Lord patiently awaits the harvest. As with all farmers, our Lord waits in expectation for a bountiful harvest, not a skimpy or average one. The 100-fold harvest obviously would please Him the most.

In the scriptures' terminology of spiritual growth and development, three basic words are used.

First is the term "babes", coming most often from the two Greek words, "brephos" and "nepios". This term refers to the newly-born, whose most prominent characteristic is the lack of intelligent expression.

"There will be a people that will advance in their spiritual walk to a place of mature sonship."

The newly-born usually bring great joy and excitement into any household. All heaven also rejoices when a sinner repents. In that period of life, babes can even play a significant role in God's economy. Their praise and worship is usually of an exuberant quality that pleases the Lord. (Mt.21:15, 16) Also, in this early stage of development, they have a marvelous capacity for receiving revelation. (Mt. 11:25) I have been much blessed by observing the joy in a new convert's face when he "sees" something new in the scriptures.

From our back window, we can see a farmer's field, usually planted with corn. In about 10 days or so after planting, my wife or I will look out and exclaim, "Look, the corn has sprouted!" Indeed, there is something joyous in seeing the "blade" appear in the earth.

But after the excitement of new life subsides, then begins the patient process of waiting for the plant and the "ear" to develop. In the church, this process is sometimes slow. The writer to the Hebrews chided them, not only for their slow progress, but also for their reversion to a "baby" stage where they needed the milk of the word again. (He.5:12, 13) Also, in 1 Co. 3:1, Paul laments that church's carnality, declaring, "And I, brethren , could not speak unto you as unto spiritual (grown and developed), but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ."

Such is the case in a large segment of the church world today. We grieve at the evidence of much shallowness and immaturity in many places. Not only are many believers satisfied to remain babes - spoon-fed, cared-for and even entertained - but their leaders seem to "love to have it so". Their endless offerings of human activities and programs create a false sense of spirituality among the people and keep them in an infantile state. In some places, the preaching of the word is replaced totally by concerts, dramas and other forms of physical activity. In contrast, the Apostle Peter exhorted new believers to "…desire the sincere (pure) milk of the word that ye may grow thereby…" (1 Peter 2: 2 )

In the normal process of growth, babes gradually become "children". "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God!" (Ro.8:16) How wonderful! "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the (children, Gr.) of God…!" (I John 3:1)

In the Greek, the word is "teknion", meaning "adolescents, half-grown, immature". The key word characterizing this stage of life is "development". Seeing children properly develop their faculties of mind and body brings a special joy to parents. It is a delight to see sober, God-fearing children adopt good attitudes toward life, formulate proper goals and make strides toward becoming responsible mature adults.

On the other hand, it is very grievous to watch children remain immature, undeveloped, interested mostly in play, pleasure and partying - children at a standstill, only drifting, falling far short of their potential.

Likewise in the Spirit, we need to grow. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and became a pattern for all of us to follow. The goal is to become a "son", in the Greek, "huios", a term for a full-grown, mature adult. In the growth process, the ultimate is neither the "blade" nor the "ear", but the "full corn in the ear." All the other stages are needful and good to behold, but what the farmer anxiously awaits is a good crop, a 100-fold harvest. This is his greatest delight!

It is the same with our heavenly Father. Let us be clear as to His desire, His plan, His purpose. Romans 8:29 holds the vision for us: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed (made like unto) the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren!"

Think about it. We are to be made like unto our Father's firstborn Son, Jesus! This likeness will be reflected in our character and in our relationship with the Father. The likeness is nothing outward, but inward, in the heart, yet affecting the whole man in a way all can see.

In the previous verse we are told that all things are working together for good. What good? The highest good for us is that we be made like His Son! Our Father is a master-potter who can weave everything we experience into a pattern for our ultimate good - the good of being made like unto His Son. It means we are to be made "sons" like He is a Son, full grown, mature, in His likeness!

In this awesome process, our Father God is forming for Himself a family. Ah, yes, He has always desired a family, a many-membered instrument that can give expression of Himself in the earth. He had told Adam and Eve that they should be fruitful and multiply. Had they done so in their sinless state, they could have produced a vast family in the earth, all in the likeness of God! Thus, the whole earth could have been "filled with His glory".We know of their failure and of the repeated failures of God's chosen people down through history, but God has not given up on His desire to have a vast family of "sons". Neither has His purpose changed. The whole earth will indeed be filled with His glory!

Let us note two highly significant scriptures. In John 12:24, we find, "…Except a corn (grain) of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."

Two questions: Who was the "corn of wheat"? and "Who or what is the "fruit"?

The context clearly shows that when Jesus spoke about the "corn of wheat" falling into the ground, He was speaking about Himself. Thus, the fruit must be connected with His falling into the ground. Then, the law of reproduction reveals an amazing and glorious fact. The law of reproduction never fails to produce the same fruit as that which was sown. Beans produce beans and corn produces corn. Spiritually, it is the same. The sowing of a "mature Son" will ultimately produce "mature sons"! The fruit which comprises the Lord's harvest (mature sons) will be exactly the same as the seed (Jesus, a mature Son) that was sown into the ground!!

"The Ultimate is the full ear of corn."

I agree this is totally overwhelming to all logic and to all powers of the reasoning mind. It can only be appropriated by faith. As we proceed along this line of teaching, we must absolutely stay totally with the scriptures and be very clear as to what the scriptures say. We cannot deviate. We cannot add and neither can we subtract. We must allow the scriptures to form the parameters of possibility, not our own mind. The natural mind cannot comprehend the things of God and will always limit God's workings.

O, for the "full corn in the ear"!

The Father waits for it.

"…Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until (it) receive the early and the latter rain." (James 5:7)

Again, what is the fruit? What is the text speaking about? Is it merely a harvest of saved souls? No, the text does not lend itself to that conclusion. The "early rain" was needed after the seed was sown to facilitate its sprouting. The "latter rain" needed to come before the time of "earing" so the harvest could come to maturity and bear fruit! Both are needed for the full process. The blade must spring forth first. Then there must be the growth of the plant unto formation of the "ear". But the ultimate is the "full corn in the ear."

All creation waits for it.

In translating Romans 8:18-25, the translator J.B. Phillips gives us a most vivid and marvelous picture. Please, let us read it slowly and absorb its wonder and glory:

"In my opinion, whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of God's sons coming into their own. The world of creation cannot as yet see Reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God's purpose it has been so limited - yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyranny of change and decay, and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!

It is plain to anyone with eyes to see that at the present time all created life groans in a sort of universal travail. And it is plain, too, that we who have a foretaste of the Spirit are in a state of painful tension while we wait for that redemption of our bodies which will mean that at last we have realized our full sonship in Him. We were saved by this hope, but in our moments of impatience let us remember that hope always means waiting for something we haven't yet got. But if we hope for something we cannot see, then we must settle down to wait for it in patience."

Epilogue

Any word sown will bear similar results to what Jesus described in Matthew 13 in the well-known "parable of the sower". Some will fall by the wayside and the word will quickly be plucked out of the heart. Other will fall in rocky places and fail to form root, perhaps because of the persecution or tribulation which follows acceptance of the word. A third portion of recipients will continue to pursue the natural life with its cares, riches and pleasures and will experience the "choking out" of the word. But, thank God, a portion of the word falls on "good ground" and produces the intended fruit.

What type of soil will God's word find in your heart?

We can boldly declare one guarantee: There will be a people that will advance in their spiritual walk to a place of mature sonship. Jesus' fall into the ground will not have been in vain. His purpose of "bringing many sons to glory" will stand. The scriptures of Romans 8:18-25 will indeed find fulfillment in a people.

As with any message that is heard which represents an overwhelming challenge, the natural first reaction will be, "What shall we do?" Various classes of people asked John the Baptist this question. (See Luke 3:10-14) Also, after Peter's message on the day of Pentecost, the Jews asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)

You may have been a serious reader of the above message and may also be saying in your heart, "I believe this message represents God's word for me. What shall I do?"

There are many ways the Holy Spirit will guide us if we are honest and sincere. The following is a list of things you should do.

(1) Accept the Word in Your Heart - God's way of salvation and establishment of His full purpose in our life is first on the basis of His WORD. We are born again by an incorruptible seed and we grow and proceed to His objectives on the basis of His word. When the virgin Mary was told by the angel that she would give birth to the Son of God, she was at first overwhelmed, but then declared, "…Behold the handmaiden of the Lord (in other words, "here I am, I abandon myself") be it unto me according to thy word." This abandonment to the WORD made it possible for her to become overshadowed by the Holy Ghost and bring forth God's Son.

(2) Keep The Vision - God said to Habakkuk, "Write the vision and make it plain upon the tables…it is yet for an appointed time…at the end it shall speak…though it tarry, wait for it…it will surely come…" (Read in full, Habakkuk 2:1-4) We must retain the vision and not allow devil, man, or circumstances of life to steal it from us. "Buy the truth and sell it not"…Pay a price for it and pay a price to retain it. Don't sell it (trade it for something else).

To help you retain the vision, read and review periodically the following scriptures:

Romans 8:18-25; John 12:24; Hebrews 2:4-10; James 5:7; Colossians 1:28) There are many others the Spirit will lead you into.

(3) Have an Ear to Hear - I pray that I shall ever have an ear to hear more of the Father's plans and purposes. It is possible (like the Hebrews in 5:11) to become "dull of hearing". According to Mark 4:23-25, we must have an "ear to hear" in order to keep receiving more spiritual substance from the Lord. It is fearful to think of those who will lose rather than gain. Only the hearing ear can bring about a spiritual gain in our lives. Israel was forced to go into captivity because they could not and would not hear the "voice of the prophets".

(4) Accept Chastening - Read about God's way with Israel in Deuteronomy 8:1-5. After their salvation from Egypt, they were exposed to a period of "chastening" which was designed for their spiritual maturity. The older generation rebelled and rejected the chastening and did not make it in to the promised land. The younger generation learned obedience and qualified to cross over Jordan.

It is imperative that you read Hebrews 12 in its entirety. Pay very close attention to the message given us in verses 1-17. Then, let us watch for those circumstances, experiences, words from the Lord, etc…that represent His chastening. When chastening is upon us, may we submit, (verse 9) and allow the Lord to do His work. Trust Him. He is in the business of producing "sons". Praise the Lord!

(5) Receive and Submit Yourself in Humility to the "5-fold" Ministry in the Body of Christ. You will not become a "son" living in a monastery or living the life of a "lone ranger".

God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to bring ministry gifts into our lives to equip us, feed us, discipline us and prepare us to fulfill our calling. (PLEASE SEE EPHESIANS 4: 1-16, especially verses 11-13.)

Practically, if you really want to grow and mature unto sonship, you need to find a church where you are fed the meat of the word and which has a vision for maturity. Many churches today have become nurseries for babies or playgrounds for children or social institutions. They can never bring us into the reality of God's full purpose.

If you are serious about going on with God in the above growth process, God will show you what all you need to do. He never ignores the honest seeking heart. Do remember the following realities. God will have a people

who will become mature sons
who will be part of His glorious, holy Church
who will rule with Him in the Kingdom

May you find a positive response to this word and pursue it. Look at the awesome promise given us in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Isn't that overwhelming? Yes, but always remember verse 24:

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."