THE MYSTERY OF THE PLOUGH

Hey there! I hope the topic hasn’t swayed your mind into so many misconceptions?

I implore you to commit your mind to this article and I pray that the eyes of your understanding shall be enlightened. Amen!

The Plough!

The natural conception of the word ‘plough’ is that it is a piece of farming equipment used for turning over the soil before putting seeds into it.

Let’s have a look at what Jesus says about the plough, precisely in Luke 9:62

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God” KJV.

Jesus said ‘no man, having put’, that means the hands weren’t there before and it is very important for you to know that the use of the words ‘having put’ does not suggest its compulsion. Also, from the preceding verses, you’d find that Jesus had asked different men to follow Him but He didn’t force them to, this is analogous to when Jesus selected His twelve Disciples. This succinctly shows that man has absolute volition in putting his hands on the plough or responding to God’s call. There’s room for one’s will!

Jesus didn’t stop there, however, let’s look at the other part of verse 62 of the same chapter ‘and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God’

So it is one thing to put your hands on the plough and another to look back!

 

As a believer, you would definitely go through austere times, causing you to want to look back in your journey. Tough storms and trials meant to test your faith and conviction.

The enemy would definitely give you reasons to look back and give up on the one true course; reasons to return to your former lifestyle; causing you doubts and indecisions whether you want to go forward in your journey. The devil could come through family, friends, mentors, teachers, etc. but just as Jesus addressed Peter in Matthew 16:23, not because Peter was the devil but because peter had sided with the devil, so are we expected put the distractions behind us.

Just as Todd Dulaney sang, “It may not be easy, but Lord, I keep running to you, sometimes, I get weary but I know that you’re pulling me through”. You would get weary at different points in your Christian journey. Notice, the lyrics didn’t say ‘‘I might get weary, rather it says sometimes I get’’ Todd knows, that those times will definitely come but that doesn’t stop him, however, from continuing the race.

Another version translated Luke 9:62 thus; “But Jesus told him, anyone who lets himself to be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

The plough symbolizes ‘The Great Commission’ or as some would call it ‘The Christian’s Work’,– establishing God’s Kingdom and sovereignty over the earth, turning over lives (just as the plough turns over the soil) and planting Jesus (the most vital seed) in them.

The distraction referred to in Luke 9:62 that led to Jesus’ response was family, yes! the important unit called ‘family’. The man Jesus asked to follow Him wanted to go home to bid his family farewell, and probably ask for their permission. Just like the man Jesus gave this response to, we sometimes find ourselves in such dilemmas where other things are seeking first place in our lives over Kingdom work.

Do not allow such earthly factors serve as constraints or hindrances to you and to your Kingdom work when you are at such crossroads; do not succumb to the desires of the earth by allowing temporary crowns distract you from the ultimate crown.

Jesus addressed this in so many occasions and even in the parables He shared:

-          Take a look at the supposed disciple, who wanted to bury His father first before accepting the call (Luke 9:59).

-          The story of the Ten Bridesmaid? Where five of the bridesmaid forgot to fill their lamps with oil (Matt: 25).

-          There’s also the parable of the seeds that fell among the thorns. The seeds would have thrived well but they let the attractions of this world, the delights of wealth, the search for success and the lure of nice things (these are some of the thorns Jesus referred to) come in and crowd out the place of God in their hearts (Mark 4:7,18).

-          Also the man in Luke 9:57, that asserted he would follow Jesus, no matter where He goes, but when Jesus told him of the real state of affairs, he quickly backed out.

-          Even the man that needed to bury his dad was told that the course he wanted to ride on was subservient to our duty on earth (Luke 9:59).

There would definitely be at every time, arrays of reasons, issues or causes trying to weigh you down from seeing the one true course. We’re always going to be faced with hurdles to jump but the moment you give in and turn back, you lose it all. The right way is full of many hitches and potholes, it would test you at different junctions, it would in fact, put you on trial but never forget, the cross is what leads to the crown and the crown is what matters the most. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:1b to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”.

Don’t be like the men Jesus called but gave one or two excuses and were thus, not selected. The Bible tells us that “many are called but few are chosen”, the call is being made to millions of lives every day but not everyone sees beyond the cross, all they see is a reason not to work.

Apostle Paul explaining this, likened our race to the normal race, here is what he said; “You know that only one person gets a prize for being in a race even if many people run. You must run so you will win the prize. Everyone who runs in a race does many things so his body would be strong. He does it to get a prize that will soon be worth nothing, but we work for a prize that will last forever. In the same way, I run straight for the place at the end of the race. I fight to win. I do not beat the air” 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 NLV.

So many people run races that are not worth the course, and they do so many things to their body in order to win. We Christians have a good course to run for, one worth the race, it is a prize that lasts forever. I urge you to run, run and run without looking back, for what shall it profit a man, to gain the whole world but lose his soul?

The pathway to the crown isn’t rosy. However, it is the only satisfactory path. It carries the water that quenches every thirst and as long as you journey in that path, this water flows in you. It is the only pathway that guarantees the fulfilment of life’s purposes. I can’t help but wonder how Apostle Paul felt, when he expressed his feelings thus “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Beloved, there’s great joy and satisfaction when you know your time on earth wasn’t a waste.

The plough also relates to other spheres of our lives.

There are people who’ve reverted back on a life changing decision, it could be a business venture, academic pursuit, marital relationships, friendships, dream jobs, etc. They allowed the devil to deceive them into falling back to the startup line.

There are those who have allowed themselves to be driven by failures, they don’t realize that failure is nothing but life telling them to employ a different strategy. We only truly fail when we stop trying!

The setbacks we experience are stepping stones to greater heights, it arouses the need to do better and be better. The lemons are not to make you feel bitter but rather for you to squeeze out the lemonades from it, it can be better!

Don’t let the allurements or the tribulations of the world distract you. If your relationship is failing, don’t run from it, make it work! When the work gets frustrating, don’t just quit, but rather look for ways to make it better. When you are on the sinking end of a pendulum, don’t give in and jump into the waters, call for help. When all hope seems lost and it looks like you’re all alone, please don’t succumb to the belief that He’s not there for you are never alone. Remember God has promised that He won’t leave you, neither would He forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).

“I have made you and I will carry you, I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4)

 

His plans are always beautiful than your disappointments, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving to us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor 4:17) NIV.

The Lord has made everything out of nothing, trust Him, He will take care of you. Todd Dulaney’s song didn’t just stop at, sometimes I get weary, the lyrics continued with “but I know that you’re pulling me through.”

Beloved, God knows your plight, He knows the cry of your heart, David wasn’t a man after God’s own heart because he was perfect but because he always kept running. It is not the fall that matters but the ability to get back to your feet again, the setbacks would come in their numbers, but always remember that you have the ability to kick back, so kickback!

God asked us, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:25) NIV

 I urge you to put your hands on the plough and don’t look back!

Prayers!

Father thank you for giving me this great privilege to work in your vineyard, I thank you for your call upon my life. I ask for the grace to remain steadfast to the one true course, help me Lord to reach the end by completing my race and fulfilling purpose. I bless your holy name, thank you for hearing me Lord, I ask this through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Amen

 

                                                            God bless you, Amen.         

 

                                                         TSALLA EMMANUEL