“Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8 CEB)
You see I did some research on the tomato plant, a familiar plant, but at the same time a rare plant compared to other plants. Tomato plants grow in several stages, each stage having peculiar or particular traits. The first stage is the beginning, where the plant starts as a seed. The young tomato sprouts from the ground and begins to grow into a plant. At this early stage, the tomato plants needs a certain environment, such as being kept indoors. For it is not ready for the outdoors yet; too dangerous, too many deterrents, and too many deviations in temperature. Inside, at the first stage, an ample supply of light can be managed to promote growth. The next stage is the transforming stage where the seed that has sprouted into a plant branches out as it grows. Still, in spite of the growth, no tomatoes are produced at this second stage. Moving into the third stage, the tomato is ready to become transplanted into a larger container, a larger environment and it becomes acclimated to its existence as a tomato plant in the outdoor climate. It has a sense of identity. Next, the tomato plant goes through the flowering stage, still growing, and with the right light provided, it begins to produce tomatoes. Finally, there us the ripening stage where the tomatoes take on a complete red color and earlier shades of green are no longer seen. The tomato is ready to serve its purpose.
As Christians we are going through stages, much like the tomato. We are as rare as a tomato, inasmuch as we are a peculiar people, per Scripture. We are not like other “plants;” not like other people planted and not taking advantage of the available care ensures on will progress to the point where he or she can fulfil their purpose. We go through our stages, starting out as seed, beginners as disciples of Christ. We get light inside the walls of the church where we are exposed to the word in just the right intensity of brightness, and we see the light of others that have already gone through the more advanced stages of development. Please note that you cannot stop at any stage. If you have, you need to realize that you were planted, via your calling, with the intent of you growing. Hence believers grow to the next stage, some quicker than others, depending how one puts forth the effort to keep getting the light and continue to know what it means to walk in the light, and one learns to depend on Jesus, the Light of the world. Eventually…eventually, we are ready to become transplanted into larger containers, best expressed by Jesus in the verse above; those containers called our Jerusalem, all our Judea, our Samaria, and even far-away places. The more we stay at this stage; the more we become acclimated to realizing what it means to be one of Christ’s disciples, yet we find ourselves eagerly seeking light. Thank God that we start to experience growth and produce growth; growth of the kingdom. As we ripen, and in our case, we never rot, we boldly serve our purpose. Like the tomato, we are intended to grow once planted; our planting being in the Lord Jesus by grace through faith. And we are also intended to bear new growth. We never lose our “color,” a color that cannot be distinguished as “red” by the visual eye. But let me tell you, it is red all right, because we are covered by the crimson blood of Jesus; the blood He shed for you and for me way back on Calvary! We realize that and we respond to that in a righteous way.
Let me encourage you at whatever stage you are in during your growth process, keep growing. Keep being fed by the nurturing word of God! Keep being refreshed by the living water you have come to know! Keep pursuing more light, indoors and outdoors; in the presence of the saints and in the presents of the those that “ain’t!” Avoid the darkness! Remember, you are intended to grow, and you cannot grow in darkness, and you will not produce growth in obscurity! Let’s get to it – today! Keep progressing my friend! How? The closing verse will help! Be blessed!
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King