Year of Realization - Day 47: There will eventually be a harvest.

““What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked. His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.””

‭‭Esther‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT

A few years ago we took pleasure as we watched a beautiful vine grow in our back yard and eventually produce about 13 lovely gourds. These were deep green with beautiful light yellow stripes. We loved them. The thing is, we hadn’t planted any gourds!

Apparently, a seed from one of the many decorative gourds we tossed out into the yard when they were past their prime, had remained viable. There’s no way of knowing how long between the time that particular type of gourd was thrown out and this beautiful offering was manifested for us to enjoy.

Now, I had heard gardeners describe some plants in their garden as being “volunteers.” I came to understand that what the gardener was referencing was that this was something from a former year’s planting. Again, viable seeds decided to “volunteer,” to grow even though they had not been “intentionally” planted this time around.

Believe it or not, my yard is filled with plants that at sometime or another I would see out in different places and think how I would like to have one like that. Then, over the years, these plants have “shown up” in my yard. I once saw a yard with a lot of ferns and thought how nice it would be to have ferns like that. Now, in the summer, my yard looks like “Fern Gully.”

Additionally, driving down the road from time to time I would see these trees in the spring with wonderful purple flowers on them, and, they had heart-shaped leaves! My yard is now filled with several of these, none of which we planted.

On top of all that, I have several decorative type maples, also volunteers.

I can’t help but believe that the Lord planted these through the wind or animals for my pleasure!

“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The word of God instructs us that the life we live is like a garden; what we plant will eventually become our harvest.

Sometimes, it seems that our good deeds have gone unnoticed. But, the Word also instructs that after we have done what we are supposed to do, we need to patiently wait for the blessed harvest.

“You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬-‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And, what of those who do evil and never seem to have to pay the price for it? Well, the seeds they’re planting will also show up, sometimes coming to fruit when they least expect it.

Additionally, we will all have to stand before a holy God Who knows exactly what we’ve done. There won’t be any avoiding that last harvest of the seeds we have sown.

Now, for those of us who have repented and received the Lord’s forgiveness, we can know that there will be “crop failure,” so that we only reap from the good works we have done after having received Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

Better than that, just as I get to enjoy wonderful plants I didn’t sow, just so, we will reap eternal life and inheritance through the righteousness sown for us by Jesus Christ!

So, if you’re tempted to become discouraged, thinking that the good you have done will never be noticed, just remember: the Lord never loses track of any seeds. And, that brings us to where we are in the story of Esther.

In our opening scripture we see that the king—having been unable to sleep—has the book of his kingdom’s business read to him. And—lo and behold—we see that a seed Mordecai had sown, is about to come to fruit.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#yearofrealization