First Fruits

The drought that we’ve been experiencing this year has take its toll on gardens, lawns, and field crops. My husband told me an interesting fact about corn production that I’d like to share with you.  The corn plant itself has only a limited lifespan, days actually.  In every growing season, whether wet or dry, the tiny plant emerges from the seed, and roots push downwards through the soil to a depth of at least 3 feet.  Under ideal weather conditions,  stalks can reach 7 feet tall, and need that deep root system to support themselves.  Over the last couple of months, we have watched the usually lush rows struggle to survive.  Leaves roll in on themselves to preserve precious water, even their height has been diminished to between 5-6 feet.  Everything the corn plant has, every bit of energy, moisture and life is put into producing the fruit, that precious ear of corn. This struggle to  live, not for itself, but for the next generation reminded me of Christ.  Jesus knew full well that his time on the earth was for a season, and everything he had, his godly DNA, must go into developing the “fruit”, his church.  We are those first fruits, having been given life through his sacrificial death.  What a bountiful harvest we are, and what a glorious obligation we have to be fruitful and multiply, filling that basket to overflowing. “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.” James 1:18