When I read of this amazing wonder of life, I can’t help but think of the time and effort we invest into our ministries, often without any evidence of growth or life. There have been many times I have personally invested my time, talent and finances into a person or ministry without evidence that it would pay off. There have been times, because of this, that I have given up on a person. Yet, there have also been times after giving up, that I have seen a breakthrough, and that person I worked with finally accepts a bible study. They finally come to church. They receive the Holy Ghost. Those years of hard work and effort finally pay off.
The Bible states;
Gal 6:7-9
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
I have come to learn that God’s growing season is much like the Chinese Bamboo Tree. There isn’t anything typical about it. There is no rhyme or reason to it. We will never understand how God operates, we just need to understand, “in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. I sometimes wonder if God placed the Chinese Bamboo Tree on earth for us to learn from.
What most people do not understand about the Chinese Bamboo Tree is that the growth is not all occurring during that five week span in the fifth year. But underneath the ground, the seed has actually sprouted within days of being planted. During those first four years this Bamboo Tree is actually growing a very strong, deep and extensive root system below the surface of the ground. This extensive root system is necessary to sustain the life of this amazing tree. One cannot see this growth with the naked eye, but one who understands plants knows exactly what is happening. They cannot see it, but they know the seed is growing. They keep feeding, watering and providing sunlight to it because they understand if they stop, this plant will die. This is a great picture of faith.
Those of us who truly understand God know that He is going to do what He promised He would do. Our faith in God is what keeps us going. We continue to invest our time and energy into his Kingdom because we understand that something is happening just beneath the surface. Whatever is happening beneath the surface is a necessary part of the answer. We may not see the answer today, but that doesn’t mean the answer is not being worked on today. Our faith in God gives us the patience to keep working and waiting until His answer does come.
James said it this way;
James 1:3
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Heb 6:12
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Most of us have enough faith, but few of us have enough patience. I encourage you today to allow your faith to work patience in you. When you allow your faith and your patience to work together, God said, “you will inherit your promise!” You will receive your answer. Your ministry will succeed.
Don’t quit now, you have come too far to turn back. Don’t give up. There is something happening just beneath the surface! Keep working. Keep watering. Keep witnessing. Keep praying. Keep preaching, and “in due season you shall reap, if you faint not!”
