Untimely Death

# 348 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 4:28,29 "For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. "But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

The sickle, a symbol of death. Like it or not, we have an opportunity here to talk about death. God is the perfect farmer and He knows when it is time to “bring the corn into the bin if you will.”

We often question God in the matter of what we consider to be untimely deaths, but there is no untimely death in God's overall plan. When His children are ready (ripe) He brings them home because in His eyes, there is no point in waiting.

It's a terrific struggle to trust this truth, but when we do, it can be a source of great peace. We sing a song at Thanksgiving called “Come Ye Thankful People Come.” The second verse reads:

“All the world is God's own field, fruit unto His praise to yield.
Wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrow grow.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear,
Lord of harvest grant that we, wholesome grain and pure may be.”

Beloved, all the world IS God's own field for the ultimate purpose of His glory and praise. Our prayer must be that when our time of harvest comes, we will be found wholesome and pure as the wheat in this song. The only way that is possible is to be found in Christ. If we die in the faith, we will live unto joy in His presence forever.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word