The New Year: An Extra Time

It’s just like yesterday that we just greeted ourselves, “Happy new year.” Now, it is December again and another new year is knocking at our doors. How time flies!

Few years back, at the beginning of that year when everybody was celebrating witnessing another year and congratulating one another wishing themselves and the people around them the best in the new year, God took me to the book of Luke and exposed a misery to me about the life of a man as it relates to God. I became so heavy in my heart; and I was like God, this is dangerous! That’s to say the least.

And since I am the writing type, I quickly resolved that that was an inspiration for another classic from Omotoso Kayode. I did not intensively apply it to my life and I made no effort to preach it on any pulpit either even if that could have helped me in some ways to practice what I preach. The only person that got to know about this did not really get the crux of the matter, I think! And very soon, the story became like that of the seeds that fell among the thorns, although germinated and grew but the affairs of this world outgrew it and shocked life out of the poor plant. What a pity! I was soon overwhelmed by activities in college and duties at work while my new year gift suffered an utter neglect.

Thank God for God though, _His mercies are always unfathomable. As the year is about coming to a close, He reminded me again the message that was to guide me through the year 2011 that I chose to push behind me. His word is life and it is true for all seasons, just follow me as we follow His lead and take a journey through these four (4) verses of the Scriptures and their importance to man as a creature of God.

Before we go ahead, please, prayerfully and carefully read the following passage as if you have never read it before. May God open our eyes to the misery behind His word in Jesus name. (Amen).

Luke 13:6-9. He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

The man actually planted so many things in the vineyard of which the fig tree was just one. He chose to include the fig tree among the numerous plants in the vineyard because he would have a need for the use of its fruits thereof. And probably because he wasn’t as skilled a vinedresser himself, he invested a huge sum in hiring a professional gardener and provided him with every resources required for an effective and efficient service delivery in the vineyard. This, he did basically to get optimal yield from the vineyard at each harvest.

The very first year he came, the proceeds from the vineyard did not include the fig but he did not bother himself about that giving excuse for the unproductivity of the fig tree and probably some other plants in the first year. All plants do not grow at the same rate and given the same conditions, they would not produce yield at the same rate.

The second harvest came and there was a general increase in harvest. The husbandman was rather very happy and had thought that if the harvest could be this much this year, he would therefore have plenty of figs to eat. But disappointingly, the harvest did not still include any fig. The man questioned himself, “What is happening, do I still have to give the fig tree a little more time?” And he retorted, “I will be patient a little more while.”

His wrath was rather ignited at the third harvest when he completely ran out of patience with the unproductive fig tree and this time, he queried the vinedresser, “Come young man, I know you are good at what you do but for this fig tree, it has been redundantly unproductive for three (3) good years, what do you think the problem is?” The dresser was rather speechless finding no reason for the unfortunate condition of the fig tree. And the husbandman issued his verdict, “Please, have it cut down, I have no interest in wasting my hard-earned resources on such a white elephant project of a plant.” The dresser however quickly pleaded, “Sir, I know you had been patient for far too long but please tamper justice with mercy. Please Sir, spare it one more harvest that I may put in some extra more effort in helping the fig tree to produce fruits but if it still did not bring forth fruits then, I will execute your judgment.” “Okay, give it a try.” Said the husbandman.