Using Christ Just to Stay in the Bam

In the Bible, those who have believed in Jesus Christ and received forgiveness for their sins are referred to as wheat, while those still in sin are known as chaff. This distinction is not just symbolic but highlights the spiritual separation between those who belong to God and those who don’t.

Jesus’ Work of Separation

The first work that Jesus does in the life of a believer is to separate them from the world (symbolized by the chaff) and place them into His care (the barn).

Matthew 3:12 states, “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

This passage describes a process of judgment and purification, where Jesus separates the wheat (believers) from the chaff (those who reject Him). The barn represents the presence of God, a place of safety and sanctification, separated from worldly corruption (see John 17:15-16).

This idea of separation is also seen in Matthew 13:29-30, where the parable of the weeds emphasizes how God will ultimately distinguish between the righteous and the unrighteous.

The Importance of Bearing Fruit

If you understand farming, you know that not all seeds are stored in the barn. Some are taken back to the field to grow and multiply. This is a crucial lesson for believers: the grain that remains in the barn may stay the same for years, but the seed that returns to the field will bear much fruit.

In John 12:24, Jesus teaches this important principle: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

This metaphor illustrates that spiritual growth and fruitfulness require a kind of deathndying to our old selves, to our sinful nature, and to the distractions of this world. The process of death to self is essential for producing lasting spiritual fruit.

Dying to Self for Eternal Life

Jesus goes on to explain the consequences of refusing to die to ourselves. In John 12:25-26, He says:

“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

Jesus is teaching that those who cling to their lives, who love the comforts and pleasures of this world, will ultimately lose their eternal reward. But those who “hate” their lives in this world (i.e., who deny themselves and their worldly desires) will gain eternal life. This is a call to radical discipleship, one that requires followers of Jesus to live differently from the world. The life of a Christian should reflect the values of God’s Kingdom, not the transient pleasures of the earth.

Parable of the Sower: Enduring in Faith

In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23), Jesus describes four types of soil: the path, rocky ground, thorny ground, and good soil. The seeds that fall on the good soil represent those who hear the Word of God, accept it, and bear fruit. The key characteristic of the good soil is endurance. Matthew 13:23 says:

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

This endurance involves persevering through trials, temptations, and distractions, such as the pleasures of life, the deceitfulness of riches, and worldly cares (Matthew 13:22). Endurance in faith leads to fruitfulness for the Kingdom of God. Those who endure in faith, despite the hardships, will be rewarded with a harvest that multiplies.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Jesus also described the cost of discipleship in Luke 9:23, where He said,

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

This is a call for believers to live sacrificially, to die to their own desires, and to follow Christ’s example.

In order to be truly fruitful in the Kingdom of God, we must be willing to pay the price of discipleship. This means putting the interests of God’s Kingdom above our own, living selflessly, and being willing to face rejection or persecution for the sake of Christ.

Practical Application for Believers

For those who are truly following Christ, their salvation should not be passive. As believers, we are called to draw others to Christ and bear fruit that will last. John 15:16 says,

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

Our lives should reflect a desire to make an impact in the world for the Kingdom of God. This involves not only sharing the gospel with others but also living out our faith through service, generosity, and love.

If you are a believer, it’s not enough to merely be saved; your salvation should have a lasting impact on others. This is why we must actively engage in the work of the Kingdom, using our time, resources, and talents for God’s glory. As we do this, we join in the great mission of spreading the Gospel and bearing fruit that will last for eternity.

Conclusion

May the Lord help us move beyond just being “wheat in the barn” and into a life of fruitfulness that comes through sacrifice, endurance, and faithful service. May we be willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads, even when it costs us our comforts and desires.

As we embrace this calling, let us remember the promise in

1 Corinthians 15:58: “

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Shalom.

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