By Not Known
When Alan Nelson was a boy, his dad taught him an important lesson one day
as they stood in a soybean field. “What’s that?” his dad asked, pointing to a
tall green plant.
Alan looked at him sheepishly and responded, “You know what that is. It’s a
cornstalk.“
“No, it’s a weed,” his dad said.
“Dad, that’s not a weed. We have acres of corn. That is corn.”
Dad answered, “But a cornstalk in a soybean field is a weed.“
When one is misplaced, no matter how right it seemed, it can still be in the
wrong place. l had also learnt a long time ago that the right to do something
does not necessary mean that doing it is right. Some people insisted on their
rights and as a result stepped on toes and made enemies.
The key is appropriateness, understanding what’s needed and doing what it
takes to respond effectively. In other words we need to do what is appropriate
at the right moment.
The apostle Peter was challenged with the question, “Who do you say that I
am!” Peter gave the right answer but he and the rest of the disciples were
promptly told to keep that to themselves. The right moment had not yet come
and the effectiveness of that revelation would have lost its usefulness.
Instead, the disciples were taught other lessons on suffering and servanthood.
If the disciples had been able to connect Isaiah 53, they would have
understood Jesus’ point here. It was not surprising then that they took a long
time to realise that the Messiah’s disciples must also be prepared to suffer.
And that if they try to save their (earthly) lives, they will lose the life that
really matters, but if they are willing to lay down their lives for Jesus, they
will know real life.
The lesson for us is to be able to differentiate the cornstalk in the soybean
field. It should have been obvious. Yet, many are still blinded from the true or
real message that Jesus brought to us on the cross. When you understand the
message of the cross, respond to God’s love now. It will make a difference in
your life.