Christlike Perfection: Is It Attainable?

This was the theme for this year’s 7^th camp meeting at Lay Institute for Global Health Training (LIGHT) – Philippines. It was from November 2^nd to the 6^th, attended by around 160 delegates (excluding those from the campus) from all over the country and a few from overseas. It was graced by resource speakers, Elder Randy Skeete, the Campus Ministries Evangelist from Michigan Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists; Mr. James Hartley, the President of LIGHT; and Mr. Narcimel Santor, a Medical Doctor, General Practitioner, and Medical Missionary.

Meeting acquaintances and enjoyed and refreshed by nature

It was my second time to attend the camp and it was a blessing to see the place standing strong and still after the recent supertyphoon Lawin that struck the country. Praising God for the developments I’ve seen, the work progressing, and the continued equipping of medical missionaries from far and near. With the surrounding nature, my soul was again refreshed and it was worth traveling all the way from the western part of Mindanao to the northern part of Luzon. It was a get-together of friends as well – friends whom I’ve known through friends, I’ve met in various mission fields, I’ve labored with, and I’ve went with in different missionary trainings. It was also wonderful to know new friends and fellow missionaries. Oh, how magnificent and jubilant will it be when that reunion in heaven will come to pass! 

Elder Randy Skeete in Barong Tagalog

The camp? It was short in duration but Praise God for the messages were not short to gain understanding about the possibility of attaining Christlike perfection --- what I am sharing to you in this page. Favoritism aside, I would just be sharing on Elder Randy Skeete’s topics here because it was his sessions that I have somehow complete notes on. As you read this, I am encouraging you as what we have been encouraged by the strange man: Get your Bible and not your cell phone. The reason is obvious: the latter has temptations but the former has absolutely none. Do you agree? We did! In addition, there are comments and emphasis after some passages written here which would guide you; and Spirit of Prophecy statements are provided for more light on specific subjects. 

Breathe in, breathe out and let’s start! To begin, it may be well if you start with a prayer as we did and we always should. Be blessed!

With the theme song, Like Jesus, we were introduced to THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, during our first session.

Exodus 3:13,14 – ‘I AM’ means the self-existent one. It implies that God needs nothing from us in order to exist.

Who Jesus is? Look up these texts: John 6:51; John 8:12; John 10:7; John 10:11; John 11:25; John 14:6; and John 15:1.

These passages tell us that Salvation centers in a Person and not in doctrine or a church.

I Corinthians 1:30 – God has arranged that through Christ we have access to wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Jeremiah 26:3 – Righteousness is not something we seek but Someone we seek to be closer and closer to until we can’t tell the difference between us and Jesus.

John 14:8,9 – We slow God down but He wants to do something quick to us.
- The relationship between the Father and Jesus is the same with Jesus and the believer.

John 17:18 – ‘even so’ means ‘the same way’

John 15:9,10

Christian perfection is possible and required. It is the point that we look like Jesus as the way Jesus looks like the Father.

Righteousness is not a doctrine but a life.

Romans 6:16 – Notice ‘ye yield’. It means the devil can’t force us to sin neither can God force us to do right.
- Sin = Death; Obedience = Righteousness or right doing

Deuteronomy 6:25 – Obedience and righteousness are inseparable.
- Righteousness is a life of obedience to God.
- We are to do right because God is right!
- Everything right comes from God.
- The life of Christ in us needs to be expressed.

John 14:10

Genesis 2:7 – We need no more ground/dirt but every breath reminds us that we depend on God.

Second Topic: THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Genesis 1:1-26 – Notice the phrase, ‘And God said…’
-  It is not what God created on what day but it is about the power of God’s word.

Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3 – The word of God + NOTHING!

Matthew 8:5-7 – The word of God is the means by which He does everything.

John 8:16

John 17:17

1 Thessalonians 4:3 – Sanctification is done by God’s Word.

John 15:1-3 – Notice ‘ye are clean…’; Greek word of clean in verse three is same as purge in verse two.
- The only problem of God is sin and the one solution is JESUS.

John  15:4,5, 7 – Notice the similarities.
- Jesus abides in us through His Word.

Desire of Ages, 677.1 - It is through the word that Christ abides in His followers.
- Jesus can’t literally abide in us because He is still human so He does it through another agency – the Word which is full of Spirit.
- Christ abides in us by studying and obeying
- No sanctification and perfection outside the Word of God!

John 15:3

Christ’s Object Lessons 100.1 – The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character…If studied and obeyed, the word of God work in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute.

Ephesians 5:25-27 – Notice ‘washing of water by the word…’

1 Peter 1:18, 19 – Our perfection must be the perfection Jesus achieved in the world.

Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; Revelation 14:5 – the description of Christ which is to be the description of God’s people.
- We have to come to perfection without blemish and guile.

Jude 24 – There must be cooperation!

Review and Herald, October 30, 1888 par. 8 – Those who take the position that Christ has done it all, and that we need not obey the requirements of God, will fail of everlasting life.

John 3:16; 1 John 3:23 – most forgotten commandment

Signs of the Times, November 15, 1899 par. 8 – Implicit obedience is the condition of salvation.
Review and Herald, October 30, 1888 par. 3 - In the work of salvation, God requires the cooperation of man.
- Perfection/Sanctification is brought by the word of God.

Education 126.4 – The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One.

Psalm 148:1,2,5 – Angels were made out of nothing.
- There’s no weakness that God’s word can’t remove from our lives!

Our High Calling, 116.2 – Your last thought at night, your first thought in the morning, should be of Him in whom is centered your hope of eternal life.

Third Topic: PERFECT CHILDREN

Luke 2:40; Luke 1:80 – Everyone can grow the way Jesus grew.
- The life Jesus lived is the life we can live.

A child in his mother's arms [like this]
can attain Christlike Perfection!

- Christlike perfection can be attained from the mother’s womb. 

Luke 1:15,34,35 – Jesus was also filled with Spirit from His mother’s womb as John the Baptist.
- There are some things in the Bible that we find difficult not to understand but to accept.
- A child can be trained to Christlike perfection even in the womb by the mother practicing the character of God.
- God’s standard [the righteousness of Christ], for admission to His kingdom, is applicable to all ages!

2 Kings 22:1,2 – Perfection is a path that has stages.
- God has different expectations at every stage of life.
- It’s either we develop Christlike character or Satanic character, nothing in between.

Christ’s Object Lessons, 283.3 – There are only two classes in the world today, and only two classes will be recognized in the judgment--those who violate God's law and those who obey it.

Daniel 3:18 – ‘But if not’ means placing no condition to obey.
- Perfection begins in the heart at all times, under all circumstances, and expressed in actions and speech.
- Until we come to the place where the honor of God means more than our own lives, we can never reach Christlike perfection and heaven.
- Christlike perfection requires constant denial of self. It is a difficult thing to do but here lies the foundation of it.
- Our problem is not Satan but ourselves!
- We don’t need help from the devil to sin but from God to do what’s right.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 – The devil copies God’s approaches – wants the youth, too!
- According to Sister White, 50% of personality is developed at three years old.
- The devil makes vices attractive – makes it appear that when we sin, we have benefits.
- We have to choose who gets us!
- God and the devil has their own tables and sells different things.

1 Corinthians 6:20 – Let’s give our lives to the One who gave His life for us!

Fourth Topic: LIKE SAVIOR, LIKE SINNER

Galatians 4:4 – Christ was born of a woman.

Job 14:1        – Man is born of a woman.

Galatians 4:4 – Jesus born under the law.

Galatians 4:5 – Man born under the law.

Hebrews 2:14 – the human condition is ‘flesh and blood’ and Jesus took of our weak condition when he came to the flesh – ‘flesh and blood’

James* 1:13,14 – every man is tempted but God can’t be tempted.
*He is the half brother of Jesus, and also Jude.

Matthew 4:1     – Jesus is tempted in human flesh.

Matthew 6:9             –  Man praying.

Luke 11:1; John 17:1 – Jesus praying.

Hebrews 11:6 – We need to live by faith.

John 8:29       – Jesus pleased God by faith.

Matthew 28:18-20 – We are to be baptized.

Matthew 3:16       – Jesus was baptized.

Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4 – We die.

Revelation* 1:17,18; 1 Corinthians 15:21 – Jesus was resurrected.
*Written by John who most perfectly reflected the character of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:28,29 – Humans will be resurrected.

Acts 2: 37,38 – We should repent.
- If Jesus can die of sin, then why can’t He repent of sin?

1 Peter 2:24 – Jesus took our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 –  Jesus never made a choice to sin but God made Him to be sin.
- Sin is a choice!

Desire of Ages, 111.2 - Jesus did not receive baptism as a confession of guilt on His own account. He identified Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we are to take, and doing the work that we must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after His baptism was also an example to us.
- Jesus confessed, repented, and baptized for us!

Manuscript Releases, Vol. 21, 196.2 – In fulfilling "all righteousness," Christ did not bring all righteousness to an end. He fulfilled all the requirements of God in repentance, faith, and baptism, the steps in grace in genuine conversion.
- Jesus closely identifies with us!

John 6:63 – The flesh can’t repent – it is a gift!
- We can only repent in the strength of Christ’s repentance.
- The sinful nature doesn’t confess wrong; it takes the Spirit of Christ to repent.
- Only through Christ can we confess and feel sorry.

Fifth Topic: HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS

Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:17-19; Genesis 18: 23-27; Psalm 103:13,14 – We are dust!

Genesis 2:10-12 – Everything walks on the ground.
- Gold and onyx are on the surface of the earth.

Haggai 2:8 – Before creating Adam and Eve, He had more choices than gold. But God chose dirt? Why?
- Gold stone is inherently precious.
- When making a man with dirt and putting His image in the dirt (the lowest of the low), God demonstrates that He can raise it to the highest!

Conflict and Courage, 21.5 - God created man for His own glory…
- God can take dirt and raise/lift up man to a level far beyond that which he was made. God wants to do it with our cooperation!

Signs of the Times, December 28, 1891 par. 1 – God's grace will not supply the place of man's cooperation.
- We must work together with God!
- The business to be run is our life. God wants to run it with us.

1 Corinthians 3:9 – He wants to partner with us!
- Our lives as business have different departments.
- God wants to be involved in all aspects, Himself as the Senior Partner.
- God wants to run the entire area of our lives!

Genesis 39:1,2 – ‘The Lord was with Joseph’ means business partnership.

Genesis 39:3-5 – In partnership of God and Joseph, God was responsible for the results.
- When God runs our life, God blesses those in the circumference of our life, though not believers of Him.

Genesis 39:20,21 – The first one that suffers is God when our spiritual life is declining.

Genesis 39:22 – When God runs our life, He does things that causes people to wonder.
- God likes to work miracles; He doesn’t do insignificant things.
- God likes to guide His people by miracles (egs. falling of manna, pillars of cloud and fire)

Genesis 39:23 – Our lives are business that must be run well.

Education 138.1,2 - To every man is given "his work" (Mark 13:34), the work for which his capabilities adapt him, the work which will result in greatest good to himself and to his fellow men, and in greatest honor to God.
     Thus our business or calling is a part of God's great plan, and, so long as it is
conducted in accordance with His will, He Himself is responsible for the results.

1 Timothy 4:8 – Godliness is doing things God’s way.
- Let God run our lives; be an active partner.
- How to run a business? Make God our Senior Partner!

Luke 2:48,49 – Jesus’ life is to carry out His Father’s business – as our lives should!
- Our lives must be God’s plans and not ours.

Mind, Character, Personality, Vol. 2, 423.2 – Every human being has a soul to save or to lose. Each has an individuality separate and distinct from all others. Each must be convicted for himself, converted for himself. He must receive the truth, repent, believe, and obey for himself. He must exercise his will for himself. No one can do this work by proxy. No one can submerge his individuality in another's. Each must surrender to God by his own act and the mystery of godliness.

- We must make individual choices, not based on what others are doing, so the more blessed we will be and become a blessing to others in ways we can never imagine.

Christian Service, 346.4 - No scheme of business or plan of life can be sound or complete that embraces only the brief years of this present life, and makes no provision for the unending future. Let the youth be taught to take eternity into their reckoning. Let them be taught to choose the principles and seek the possessions that are endurin to lay up for themselves that "treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth;" to make to themselves friends "by means of the mammon of unrighteousness," that when it shall fail, these may receive them "into the eternal tabernacles." Luke 12:33; 16:9, R.V.

Education, 13.1 - Our ideas of education take too narrow and too low a range. There is need of a broader scope, a higher aim. True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.  

 

Last Topic: MORE OR LESS

Genesis 1:14-16 – God deliberately made two great lights; one is greater than the other but each has specific duty.
- Is it equal? No! Is it fair? Yes – because God made/did it!
- God gives more to some than others.

Matthew 25:14,15- After a long time, God will reckon with us = accountability/judgment.

Matthew 15:21-23 – 5 to 10 talents = 100% increase; 2 to 4 talents = 100% increase
- Different in amount of talents but the same Master’s response.
- It is not how many talents we have but what we did with what we have!
- God wants us to do the best we can that people will be blessed.
- Looking on a larger scale, Enoch and the thief on the cross received the same heaven.

1 Corinthians 12:8 – Different people receive different gifts.
- We are to use our gifts to the maximum so God will be glorified to the maximum!
- We have an individual responsibility to God.

Steps to Christ, 100.1 - The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.
- God deals with us as if we are the only person in the world.

Education 267.3 - We need to follow more closely God's plan of life. To do our best in the work that lies nearest, to commit our ways to God, and to watch for the indications of His providence--these are rules that ensure safe guidance in the choice of an occupation.

Ecclesiastes 9:10; Deuteronomy 28:44 – We are to do the most of ourselves or our lives so we can be the greatest blessing to others.

Hope you were indeed blessed as I have been blessed.

Praising God for how He set everything in place and the treasured memoirs that each one had during the camp...

Registration

Pitched tents

Kitchen work

Manual baking preparations

Queueing for the food

PAMAS-Quirino delegates with Bro. James Hartley

Young people happily eating under a mango tree

United prayer

Brothers asking/consulting directly to Brother James Hartley

Singing the theme song: Like Jesus

Delegates listening attentively to Elder Skeete

Responding to appeals by standing

Young people who committed/recommitted their lives to Jesus

Attendees who were spiritually blessed, inspired, and encouraged with the Spirit-filled messages.

Thus, the answer to the question, Christlike Perfection: Is it Attainable?, is...a firm YES!

Now, we are left with the challenge to attain it by God's grace, with His help, through

Bible study and prayer, living the life of Christ, and clinging on to His promises of

attaining perfection with faith. Are you accepting the challenge?

It has been penned by the prophetess that:

"CHRIST is our pattern, the PERFECT, and holy example that has been given us to follow.

We can never equal the Pattern, but we may IMITATE and RESEMBLE it according to our

ability." {That I May Know Him, page 265}

May we all imitate and resemble our perfect Pattern, Jesus Christ, every day that we may

become perfect like Him as we near the close of time.

God help and bless you as you cooperate with Him!

Organic Farming: Experiencing the ABC of True Education

Learning by Theory

Brother Daniel Garcia lecturing on
Permaculture System

     It took around twoscore days, in five different places, of hearing lectures about organic farming, specifically permaculture system, from brother Daniel Garcia who was sent by God all the way from Portugal. It was my first time hearing about such system and it was interesting and amazing to know what really is the ‘first work that should be entered upon.’ Well, this is what the testimony of Jesus says:

“Study in agricultural lines should be the A, B, and C of the education given in our schools. This is the very FIRST WORK THAT SHOULD BE ENTERED UPON…” {Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 179, par. 2}

     No wonder! I honestly admitted to myself that this is the reason why it seems like I lack one thing. I mean, of all the trainings that the Lord has given me the chance to undergo, it was only then that I realized that I haven’t really gone that far. Why? Because the very first step has been left out. So, I found myself going back to pre-school (if this is the lowest grade to enter in worldly education). In short, back to zero…or should I better say, back to number one --- the very first step!

     How comforting to know that God really cares and He is indeed abundant in mercy. It was because of His mercy that He allowed this realization to come to light so I would better appreciate the truth in line of agriculture work and how it is related to the various ministry experiences that I had before. I was overawed with the light that shone brighter than when I had known it the first time and even when I had read books of inspiration related to this line of work. God’s timing is undeniably perfect! It might work in some other ways for other people but for me, God just revealed the light when I can better esteem it. Has this light already come your path? It doesn’t matter when, where, or how, the most vital thing is that we may not merely be hearers of it.

     When I reflected back to my childhood years, I was brought to view of my earthly father working in his own garden. I had zero attention to what he was doing and zero concern to help him. What I shame to think about! Not knowing that God, our Heavenly Father, has introduced His occupation in His own Word. Where can we find that? It’s in John 15:1 where the Bible says,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

     I was surprised! It was my first time to understand this passage in scripture. Well, I’ve come across it but haven’t looked up what a husbandman really meant. But when I go to Mr. Dictionary, I found out that it means a gardener, farmer or an agriculturist, and the like. Wow! God is a farmer! Yes, that is one of the things that I’ve learned when I attended the organic farming lectures. Amazing, right? After then, I ask God for forgiveness for not valuing the work of my father before. Now I fully comprehend that this is the reason why all throughout the Bible, there’s so much of the ‘language of nature’ --- because God Himself is a farmer!

     As a farmer, one needs to have a farm or land to work on. Another dumbfounding thing that I’ve learned is, this is part of God’s plan and there are blessings and curses attached to it. Notice this:

Applying the theories on soil preparation in a
 family's 'sufficient ground for tilling'

“In God’s plan for Israel every family had a home on the land, with sufficient ground for tilling. Thus were provided both the means and the incentive for a useful, industrious, and self-supporting life. And no devising of men has ever improved upon that plan. To the world’s departure from it is owing, to a large degree, the poverty and wretchedness that exist today.” {Ministry of Healing, p. 183, par, 3}  

“He who earns his livelihood by agriculture escapes many temptations and enjoys unnumbered privileges and blessings denied to those whose work lies in the great cities. And in these days of mammoth trusts and business competition, there are few who enjoy so real an independence and so great certainty of fair return for their labor as does the tiller of the soil.” {Education, p. 219, par. 1}

What can a Christian farmer do?

Learning to do 'Useful Work':
Making a Compost

“Christians farmers can do real missionary work in helping the poor to find homes on the land and in teaching them how to till the soil and make it productive. Teach them how to use the implements of agriculture, how to cultivate various crops, how to plant and care for orchards.”

{Ministry of Healing, p. 193, par. 2}

If this is God’s plan for us, did Jesus follow it? 

“…Jesus followed the divine plan of education…His education was gained directly from the Heaven appointed sources: from useful work, from the study of scriptures and of nature, and from the experiences of life --- God’s lesson books, full of instruction to all who bring to them the willing hand, the seeing eye, and the understanding heart.” {Education, p. 77, par. 2}

Does this call have an importance to what is coming before us? 

“The time is fast coming when the controlling power of the labor unions will be very oppressive, Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.”

{Letter 5, 1904 (Apprearing in pamphlet, Country Living, 7, 9, 10-12, 2SM 141)}

Done in two days! Getting the land ready to 'Raise Provisions'

But...are we prepared for this serious time that is coming?

“…Ministers and people are unprepared for the time in which they live, and nearly all who profess to believe present truth are unprepared to understand the work of preparation for this time…They think they are all right when they are all wrong.” {Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 466, par. 2}

What should we do then?

“Ministers and people must make greater advancement in the work of reform. They should commence without delay to correct their wrong habits of eating, drinking, dressing, and working.”

{Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 466, par. 2}

We want to get ready and make greater advancement in the work of reform!

Learning by Experience

The facade

     God wanted us to understand the most neglected second book --- nature! He did that by sending us, with my partners, Bro. Ronald Baragona and Bro. Lexter Neil Panes, providentially to a place called Master’s Garden. It was named after Him as the Master Gardener! It is an Organic Micro-Eco Farm in La Trinidad, Benguet and owned by a very hospitable and selfless farmer named Pat Acosta. He was among the founder of LaTOP (La Trinidad Organic Practitioners) and the one who trained the many organic farmers in the place. Learning from this man who is not of our faith is such a blessing and God’s providence indeed. I said ‘hospitable’ because when we came into his farm he warmly welcomed us and charged us nothing for our three-week training there (supposed to be a thousand per day as advertised on the internet). And I mentioned ‘selfless’ because of his generosity --- in teaching us all the effective and efficient techniques in organic farming and allowing us to do the hands-on in the farm plus free raw lettuce every lunch. We really learned a lot and enjoyed our stay in his farm! 

Inside Master's Garden

Let me take you briefly to some of the exciting processes which we went through...

Counting seeds by using two load cards

Sowing with faith

Up close: Sowing by using a used pen with a stick inside

During the training, while I was having my personal devotions one morning, I was directed to this remarkable light:

“…The Lord puts His own Spirit into the seed, causing it to spring into life. Under His care the germ breaks through the case enclosing it and springs up to develop and bear fruit."{Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 326, par. 4}

Amazing! As God breathe into Adam's nostrils the breath of life and he became a living soul, so is God breathing His Spirit into a seed so it becomes alive. So, all we have to do is to plant with faith that God would let it grow. Were the seeds that we planted grow? Look at these...

They were healthy babies...

Watering them as they continue to grow...

Brother Ron preparing the bed

With Brother Neil: Poking by using a nail (preparation for potting)

Potting preparations with Sister Erika and Brother Neil

Potting

Shredding the amazing soil fertilizer --- grass!

Transplanting and using the shredded grass for mulching

Adam (Brother Ron's son) around the 10 kinds of lettuce grown in the farm

The joy of harvesting!

Exciting to harvest, too!

Praises to God for the healthy and abundant harvest!

Packing using X-Ray film

We Praise and thank God for the fulfillment of the knowledge-packed three-week course!
(With Sir Pat Acosta)

Bonus certificate with amazing citation!

What's the spiritual application of all these processes?

For me, witnessing comes to mind.

In the Master's field or vineyard, we are given the task to prepare the soil of the hearts of souls. How? I can't think of any method but Christ's method alone which explicitly says:

Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.” {The Ministry of Healing, 143}

After preparation comes sowing --- sowing seeds of truth. When inspiration says that the Lord puts His Spirit into the seed causing it to spring into life, it already gives us a hint that all we have to do is just to plant or share the gospel of Jesus and He will cause it to spring into life. This takes a lot of faith but rest assured that our efforts as humans to share the light to those in bondage of the enemy will always be backed up with divine power and blessings, so we will see a soul brought to the feet of the cross.
  
Eventually, the lettuces are transplanted where they should continually be nourished with the Creator's creations --- grass, pure air, clean water, and sunlight. These are the basics that souls are also to be nourished with, when they are transplanted from darkness into light --- by grass as food, represented by feeding on the Bible; by pure air as represented by pure or genuine prayer coming from a contrite heart; by water as the refreshing and guidance of the Spirit of God; and sunlight representing the Sun of Righteousness who brightens the soul of a sinner and transforms it for His glory.

Then the lettuces grows and made ready for the harvest. The principle that is vital to consider here is that a soul must first grow in Christ or be converted first before it is harvested. Yes, conversion should take place before baptism. When this happens, then there is a great probability that a soul would stay longer in the fold because it is firmly grounded and rooted in the truth. And it also makes sense that we are to wait 'til a fruit is already ripe before we harvest it, right?

And the day of harvest comes. What a wonderful and glorious day! I Praise God for the experiences to witness souls being won to Jesus as a result of our efforts and it is truly overwhelming and rewarding! The same feeling I had when I first experienced harvesting the lettuces in the garden. It's brings so much joy! With your finite imagination, can you picture out the joy  in heaven over one soul that repenteth? It is beyond mine!

And finally, packing the harvest --- Well, I have thought of it as like the sealing time or the close of probation where the unjust remains unjust, the filthy remains filthy, the righteous remains righteous, and the holy remains holy. It is interesting that from the garden, the lettuces are not washed anymore, the withered or bad leaves are thrown, and the good ones are packed. Isn't this what also happens when the close of probation comes --- that those who sided on the enemy is doomed to destruction and those who have been good and faithful servants will enter into the joy of the Lord and will gain the companionship of the heavenly host?
 
What a superb lesson learned in soul winning from the A, B, C of true education!

Looking forward to the ultimate experience as Isaiah foretold,

"...and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them." {Chapter 65, verse 21}

Oh, what unsurmountable joy would it be to be amongst the ranks of the saved and work with the Master Farmer!