Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: End Times (02/27/14)
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TITLE: Voices From the Fields | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lillian Rhoades
03/06/14 -
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To everything there is a season…a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. (Eccl.3:2 NKJ)
We were planted as seeds in earth’s womb when the snow capped mountains began to lose their cover. The length of days stretched until sunset, and bare trees dressed themselves in green. Wisteria, crocuses, and daffodils appeared at nature’s beckoning, and birds sang upon the treetops.
Pushed by the Hand that creates all things, we emerged as grains of wheat to drink from heaven’s tears, and suck the rich, fertile ground of our temporary habitat.
As the seasons changed, and with the sun’s paint brush, we became a vast field of tall, golden yellow, dancing gypsies. The frolicking waves turned oceans into playgrounds, and roses flaunted their beauty. Trees of the valley changed into bright colors of red, gold, and orange. Apples ripened, the heavens became a highway for migrating birds, and our heads drooped from aging.
It was the perfect time to harvest wheat.
We waited patiently to be harvested because we knew the season for harvesting would soon be over.
But there was one more season before the final gathering. Rivers froze and the frost-bound earth no longer yielded fruit. Bare trees of the valley stood as if sculptured in stone. Dusk came early, labor ceased.
“Therefore, when you see…pray that your flight may not be in winter” (Matt. 24: 15, 20).
After we were separated from the chaff, we waited for the One who would gather us up to His Kingdom.
But the gathering would not come without a fight. When the conflict began, we could feel the tares as they tried to resist the sickle, to avoid the fiery finale that awaited them.
“Let both grow together until harvest… First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn (Matt. 13:30).
Thrust in your sickle and reap, for the time has come for you to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. (Rev.14:15).
We could hear the sound of battle like as unto a thousand thunderous roars. Our ears vibrated with the clanging sound of myriad swords clashing in warfare. The echo of horses pounded out the conflict that spelled the fierce combat between the kingdoms of this world and the Kingdom of our God. Bent on total conquest to keep the Gatherer from the fruit of His grain fields, each horseman, on horses of black, red, white, and pale, skillfully wielded his sword and craftily maneuvered his horse.
As wheat from His fields, we know the fight has just begun. And as long as the battle rages, earthly wars will continue, permanent peace will be taken from the earth…”and it was granted….to take peace from the earth” (Rev. 6:4); military power will fall into the wrong hands…”and he went out conquering and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2); prices for goods and services will skyrocket… “a quart of wheat for a day’s wages” (Rev. 6:6); Christians will suffer for the Gospel’s sake… “I saw the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God…and the testimony they held” (Rev. 6:9); the world will be plagued by death from famine… “power to kill…with hunger” (Rev. 6:8); and earthquakes will shake the earth’s bedrock foundations... “and behold there was a great earthquake…every mountain and island was moved out of its place” (Rev. 6:12, 14).
The god of this world has more fuel to burn. Expect him to turn up the heat during the end times. But we of the Gatherer’s fields are safe in the “barn,” while we patiently wait for the Lord of the harvest.
When He comes, the season for planting will have ended, for earth’s womb will dry up. The old earth will give way to a new earth and a new heaven. He will finally gather His harvest at the “end of the age” (Matt. 6:39). And the wheat of the fields will rejoice.
All Biblical references are from the New King James
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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"But we of the Gatherer’s fields are safe in the “barn,” while we patiently wait for the Lord of the harvest"
As always, you have painted a masterpiece with your descriptions. This just warms my heart to read from beginning to end. Excellent!
This was violent without going overboard, and honest without being preachy. Great work as always.
God bless~