January 2002

Work, Work, Work

Part Fifteen

Needing to be “kneaded”!

[A]

              Why do men strive to be needed by others? Being needed validates our sense of self-worth and instills a perception of power. Regardless how demeaned one’s status becomes in this world, if another living being (even an animal) seeks their assistance, their self-esteem is instantly boosted. The now-infamous crisis of September 11, 2001 made “heroes” out of many ordinary individuals. Just the act of soliciting street directions from a homeless person; or asking emotional support from a physically-challenged individual; or discussing art with someone who is educationally-challenged can help justify their existence on earth. The reason many people experience severely depression when struck by some debilitating infirmity, or by the increasing limitations of advancing age, is that they are suddenly treated as if their presence on earth is no longer relevant because they no longer can provide what the world considers to be any practical service. This “service” is usually equated in terms of dollars and cents. This pitiable situation is exposing the worst in men’s carnal natures!
              But there is a higher level of need that is common to all men, and is far more pitiable, and that is our universal NEED FOR GOD! To be an irrelevance to the Kingdom of Love is surely the most grievous soul-condition any human can suffer; yet none but JESUS CHRIST can validate men in His Father’s world. There is no relief from this spiritual neediness except men be “born again” and that can only happen when “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD OF GOD!!” (Ro 10:17) But this is not a one-time only need; it is an ongoing application of God’s Word which raises His children to their full maturity! God likens His Word to the edible substance He calls the “BREAD of Life!” (Jn 6:48) Bread is made from dough made from harvested wheat! Ps 81:16 typifies Christ as “The Finest of the Wheat”! So if the Lord is The Beginning (as the Wheat) and The Ending (as the Bread), He must surely be the interim Dough as well! Herein is revealed the wonderful process of man’s spiritual growth!
              A wheat field with golden sheaves glistening in the noonday sun is a splendid sight I often observed in the Midwest where I was born and raised. Also the aroma of freshly baked bread rivals all great fragrances of the world. However few sing the praises of an uncomely “lump of dough”. This middle stage of the progression from wheat to bread is the least inspiring or admired. Neither the sight nor the scent of this pasty blob draws praise from anyone. Nonetheless, it is the necessary phase for this product to pass through. If we likened these three entities to the parable of the sower (Mt 13:23) we see the wheat as the 30 fold; the dough as the 60 fold; and the bread as the 100 fold, a Perfect Offering to God! In Scripture numerics, 30 = The beginning of Christ’s public ministry; 60 = pride; and 100 = Children of Promise. John the Baptist revealed the long-awaited Messiah saying, “He, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry, who is mightier than I. comes after me and will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire. His winnowing fork is in His Hand and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor (our hearts)! He will gather His wheat (Godly Works) into the barn (of His Spirit); but will burn the chaff (carnal works) with unquenchable Fire (of God’s Holy Presence)!” (Mt 3:11-12)
              During the public ministry of Christ, God’s Golden Wheat shone in the bright Sunlight of His Righteousness! Jesus surely walked in the glory of His Father’s Miraculous deeds while, at the same time, He set about gathering His wheat (apostles and disciples). Then came the threshing of the Wheat as Christ was hard-pressed and sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. From there, He was taken to be ‘processed’ as DOUGH in the hands of the temple soldiers, the temple priests, and the Roman soldiers. This was the “kneading” of the dough to make it supple as it rises in the warming Love of His Father. Finally, when the dough was ready to be “baked” in the “oven” of Calvary’s Fiery Altar, any resemblance to the Former glory of the Wheat was now gone; for now a New Glory of Bread appeared! As Christ hung on that Cross, the Aroma began to permeate the air until one of the two thieves hanging beside him caught the scent and cried out in repentance, asking to be remembered in the Kingdom of this Man he discerned to be its King!! When that bread was taken from its “oven”, it was set in a dark cooling place (the tomb) till it was ready to be served as “A sweet savor to the God of heaven!” (Ezr 6:10) Since then, God has fed His Heavenly Manna to all His sons in every generation. And the maturing process begins again in each one!

[TO BE CONTINUED]