When I was a young teen, my uncle put me on a tractor, took me to a field,
and taught me to harrow. He taught me the "double corner" method. It seemed
complex to me then and now. I have since tried to use that pattern when
tilling the garden, and I just cannot remember how. When he was teaching
me, I was afraid of not creating straight rows. My fears were realized.
Because of the criss-cross pattern, large sections of the field did not
have an adjacent row to follow. I was on my own to try to keep the row straight
and make it meet correctly at the other end. I eventually discovered that
by looking toward the other end of the field and seeing where my row was
to go, I could keep the row on target. If I watched the row beside me, or
looked behind at the work completed, my row would be inconsistent and crooked.
The believer's life should be straight and consistent, like a well-kept
field. The Lord instructs us to be "stedfast, unmoveable." Paul commended
the Colossian believers for "the stedfastness of [their] faith in Christ."
His desire was that they would be "rooted and built up in him, and stablished
in the faith." Consistency is the crown jewel of the mature believer's life.
It gives credibility to one's witness for Christ. Unsaved friends and relatives
have a respect for and confidence in this believer, even if they do not want
his witness. Adversity does not devastate this Christian, nor does blessing
bring false exuberance. Stability is the order of the day.
There is a grave danger that the life of a Christian may be inconsistent
and crooked, like the rows in the field I harrowed. That inconsistency destroys
testimony, embezzles joy, and robs of heavenly reward. It makes a person's
life look like a roller coaster, with countless ups and downs. One day there
is joy, with love for and obedience to Christ. The next day there is depression
with coldness toward and disobedience to Christ. That life is as changeable,
undependable, and as full of surprises as Michigan weather. Peter warns
his readers not to "fall from your own stedfastness."
To have a consistent life we must keep our eyes fixed on Christ and our
heavenly goal rather than life's circumstance or other people. If our consistency
is dependent on other people, at best we will be only as consistent as they
are. If our stability depends on circumstances, there will be no stability
because circumstances endlessly change. When Peter became concerned with
what would become of John, our Lord replied, "... what is that to thee? follow
thou me." Knowing the necessity of stability in their lives, Paul directed
the Colossian to "set their affections on things above."
Christian consistency is a precious, but rare quality. When present in the believer's life, this quality makes both the believer and the Savior attractive. Let's learn to make straight and consistent rows as we harrow our lives, by keeping our eyes on Christ and Heaven.