Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52, American King James Version)

The prophets spoke of a period which they called "the last days" (Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1; in Hebrew, "the after days"), as the period in which the Messiah would live and reign. Peter wrote that the resurrection of Christ has brought the faithful
“to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1;4-5)
The Savior expressly said that it was not designed that anyone should know when future events would occur. Thus, prior to His ascension, in answer to an inquiry whether he then would restore the kingdom to Israel, he said Acts 1:7, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power."
Still, question abounded then, as now, concerning the form, the body, that the dead shall have. Paul speaks not of the time of the coming of the last day, but of how it shall take place. He wrote to the Corinthians about the bodies of the living,
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” -A mystery, a secret, which could never have been discovered by reason, or the light of nature. And it shall happen “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”
The Greek word used here for "moment" is ATOMOS. This passage is the only place in the Greek New Testament where this word is used. ATOMOS is the word from which is derived from our English word "atom." The Greeks believed that the atom was the smallest particle of matter that existed, therefore it could not be divided, cut, split, or reduced in any way. The translators have taken this to mean that our bodies shall be changed in "an atom of time," that is, in an instant of time so brief that you could not make it any quicker, or reduce the time in any measure.
To further illustrate the quickness of this transformation, Paul uses the expression, “In the twinkling of an eye.” So how fast is that? The eyes can wink, blink and twink, it is said. A wink is a controlled movement of the eye and so it's length of time is indeterminate, but the quickest wink lasts for a half second. A blink is a reflex action of the eye and lasts somewhere between 300 and 400 milliseconds. The twinkling of the eye is caused by an involuntary, very wide dilation in the eye, estimated by some number crunchers to be 1/6,000,000,000th of a second to make a person's eyeball twinkle: This expression means 'very fast' or 'instantaneously'.
Plainly and unquestionably it concerns our change, our transformation into the image of Christ. See 1 Cor. 15:35-50, which precedes the scripture passage. Our change from mortal to immortal, from corruptible to incorruptible is a promise of God that can no more fail or pass away than any other of God's promises. Jesus states the promise in John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Since we are not given to know in advance the day or the hour, we should be ready at all times. Waiting to set our spiritual affairs in order just won’t work. It will be very difficult to make changes during that “twinkling of an eye!”

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30

The words “I do!” are only a beginning. So few seem to give any thought as to what that vow, that promise of commitment really means. Our culture seems to be trending further and further from both the need for the device and an understanding of what the word ‘yoke’ means.
First, let’s clarify that I do not mean ‘yolk’ as related to an egg, but yoke, as used by Jesus in Mt. 11:30.
The yoke is used for joining draft animals together, especially oxen, for pulling a plow or cart. A yoke might also be in the form of a frame fitted to the neck and shoulders, enabling a person, especially a servant, to carry a balanced load of two water jars or buckets.
The yoke also symbolized oppression or bondage, as when King Rehoboam promised the people that he would ‘add to their yoke,’ that is, increase their burdensome servitude.(1) Hope for the oppressed has often been expressed in terms of breaking the yoke. (2)
It might seem, then, that the yoke is a symbol of servitude, a burdensome instrument, a linkage to sorrow and despair.
Think for a moment about the many yokes that we might shoulder, yokes that bind us to unhealthy habits, wasteful pastimes, or oppressive relationships. The burden of sin is a heavy yoke indeed.
However, as with many symbols, it is not the device itself that is inherently evil. Literally, yoke means to bind or join. Thus we must not think in terms of the word without considering the relationships between those joined.
For all the negative symbolism implied by the yoke, there are positive aspects as well. To speak of the yoke of holy matrimony is to describe the linking of two in a united relationship: for example - a team, a partner, a mate, a spouse.
This is no less true when we consider our relationship to Jesus. What are we to do after we say “I do!” - That is, after we accept Jesus’ offer of salvation, and say, “Yes, I do accept YOU, LORD, into my heart?”
Note that Jesus did not say, “I have broken your yoke; you are now free to go your own way.” Rather, Jesus has broken your old yoke of bondage to sin, and you have been given a new yoke that is ‘easy, and a new burden that is light, especially as compared to the old servitude. You are yoked to Him, you share His yoke.
You may wish to think of this relationship as Master and servant, certainly one that Jesus spoke of in many of His parables. Considering who He is, His yoke should be neither burdensome, nor oppressive.
Sadly, some seem to disregard the yoked aspect of marriage vows or Jesus vows, preferring to dawdle along, unlinked, blissfully leaving the other to carry the yoke. Some relationship!

(1) 2 Chr 10:1-5; 1 Kg 12:4; 11
(2) Isaiah 9:4.
May 13, 2007

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: God said, “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. Genesis 8;22., NIV
(God’s promise to Noah, following the flood.)
Grain harvest 2002 is under way! The tradition of harvesting goes back beyond recorded history; the method has certainly changed. From a small hand-held sickle to a 30 foot sickle blade, those who wielded the instruments of reaping couldn’t imagine the changes that have taken place.
Grain is truly the staff of life. Various varieties are grown around the world, but one facet remains constant: the grain has to be separated from the plant that nourished it.
The process is the culmination of a season of preparation, planting, and waiting. There is nothing any mortal can do to speed up the sprouting, growing, heading out, and ripening. Everything takes place in God’s own good time. And goodness come to those who wait on the Lord. The harvest is a special gift, a promise fulfilled.
The first harvesting instruments were simply sticks with sharp stones - likely flint - attached, used to cut the stalks. As technology progressed, the sickle evolved through bronze and iron metals, but for thousands of years, the principle was the same: kneel down, swing the sickle, move forward a few inches, and do it again . . . and again . . .and again. The grain would be cut before it was so ripe that the cutting shattered the seeds from the seedheads in the field.
Following the reaping, the grain would be gathered to the threshing area, where the seed would be separated from the stalk and protective covering in which it grew. Any sharp blow or rubbing will do, but threshing could be done by a flail stick, cattle walking on it, or even a sled device with stones embedded in the underside. The grain is separated from the stalk and chaff (winnowing) by tossing it in the air on a windy day. A long, laborious process, but one filled with joy and union with the life-giving Lord.
The was a special fellowship engendered at harvest, because many people worked together.
As the Book of Ruth illustrates, charity was also a part of harvest, because the poor and widows were entitled to glean grain that was dropped, or left in the corners and margins of the fields.
Reaping, gathering, threshing, winnowing - all necessary parts of the harvest. Done now in an instant by one huge machine - and the harvester sitting in comfort high above the grain heads.
Still, The process is the culmination of a season of preparation, planting, and waiting. Everything takes place in God’s own good time. Goodness comes to those who wait on the Lord. The harvest is a special gift, a promise fulfilled.
July 7, 2002