Ripe

Within your life, what are you ripe for, and what are the things you’re still preparing for? What is in seed form, what is developing, and what is ready for harvest?

Recently, as I was coming out of a time of prayer, I heard the word “ripe.” An image of a velvet coated purple plum appeared before my mind’s eye. I saw and felt my hands diving into rich, cool soil that was moist and dark, loose but still dense. I was aware that the soil was not poisoned by anything artificial; it was not contaminated with any kind of man-made additives. It had been irrigated with seasonal rains and the tears of suffering and learning. The fruit... O the fruit; it was sweet and delicious, devoid of sourness, saturated with sunlight. The seed, ready for planting, was unattached to the flesh, yet the inward parts of the fruit were not dry or resistant. Its juices represented wine for a new wineskin. The color and textures spoke of regal vitality. The tree that had produced this luscious, ripe fruit had been nurtured for years in grounds free of weeds. Its roots had gone deep. It had stood the test of time and trial. Generous harvest was promised through its seed.

I looked up the word “ripe” and saw that the meanings included “mature, developed, ready for use.” Psalm 1 came to mind, especially lovely in The Passion Translation: “What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways. His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,” meditating day and night in the true revelation of light. He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of his life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.” (Psalm 1:1-3 TPT)” “Which is more important,” I thought: “The ultimate ripeness of a goal or the journey of growth it takes to produce it?” The answer, of course, is that both matter equally. We are always in the process of getting ready to be ready for something, and I think awareness of seasons can help guide our focus. In some areas of our lives, prompt action might be needed before a ripe moment passes and ends in decay, whereas other areas might require further development before they’re ready to yield their fruit and their seed.

A season of ripeness might take us by surprise. Unexpected happenings and God’s “suddenlies” remind us of the importance of abiding consistently in the Vine (John 15), with the Word of faith ever ripe within us both in favorable and unfavorable situations and environments. (2 Timothy 4:2). I think of David waking up on the morning of the day he fought Goliath, and I wonder if he had any idea what that once-in-a-lifetime day was about to hold! If he did have an idea, it was certainly too late to start practicing his skills with his slingshot and stones. But David was ready; he was “mature, developed, and ready for use.” During his out of season season, he had honed his abilities. He had grown strong in faith, and deepened his roots in God. He was confident that the same God who had helped him protect his father’s sheep would now empower him to take down the fear-mongering Giant who was causing all of Israel to tremble. A moment of ripeness came suddenly upon David, but he was like that purple plum, ready for the plucking. His preparation had been diligently accomplished. Perseverance had quietly finished its work. David was complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4), and his whole life was transformed from that one ready day.

It says of Abraham in Romans 4:20 that “he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith...” I love this phrase because it reminds us there are seasons when faith is in the growing process. We are exhorted to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), and to be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). Times change. Unexpected things happen, and there is nothing we can do to stop that process. People can be saying, “Peace and security,” in one moment and sudden destruction can come in the next. (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Despite conditions and external happenings, there IS something we can do that will anchor us in stability: we can make a daily commitment to abide in Christ - in a vibrant connection with our eternal Life Source. Through this communion, regardless of our individual seasons or those of the world, we will be positioned to receive all that we need to grow and bear good fruit that remains.