Another Insight from Composting: Utility

Yesterday I had the pleasurable experience of moving a compost pile we started last fall. It was dark, loose, moist, and full of earthworms, probably the best looking batch we have produced. It gave me a real sense of accomplishment, thinking that we had successfully carried the task of composting to its completion.

But then I realized that the compost is not an end in itself. As good as it is, it is a means to a greater end: producing a crop. I am hopeful that will occur, but we’re not there yet. We still have to put that compost to work before we are actually done with the composting process.

There seems to be a strong parallel between that and our lives in Christ.  We, through God’s grace, put real effort into our sanctification, and we see results. That is good, and is likely pleasing to God, but not enough. God saves and sanctifies in order for us to deliver His goodness into the world. We have to put our sanctification to work in order to truly complete the process. See Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14; Titus 3:8; Titus 3:14; 1 John 3:17-19; Luke 3:8-11, James 2:14-26.