He Came to Separate

His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. Luke 3:17

Wikipedia presents the theory of a winnowing fan:

Wind winnowing is an agricultural method developed by ancient cultures for separating grain from chaff. It is also        used to remove weevils or other pests from stored grain. Threshing, the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw, is the step in the chaff-removal process that comes before winnowing.

In its simplest form it involves throwing the mixture into the air so that the wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grains fall back down for recovery. Techniques included using a winnowing fan (a shaped basket shaken to raise the chaff) or using a tool (a winnowing fork or shovel) on a pile of harvested grain.

This illustration gives us a clear picture of one of the aims why Jesus came. He came to put a division between grain and chaff. He came to separate the grain from the chaff. Jesus came to put a gap between the desirable and unpleasant. Jesus came to identify what is acceptable and what is not.  He came take the harvest and He is determined to clean the harvest before bring it to His barn.

Friends, allow Jesus to come in your life. Right here. Right now.  Allow Jesus’ winnowing grace to separate the good and bad in us. He will reveal to us the grain and the chaff in us.  Let us agree when Jesus makes a division of what is good and what is not in our lives.  He will identify what is acceptable and unacceptable in our hearts. Let us not store chaff in our minds and hearts.  Let good wheat only reside in our barns.

Whether you have been following the Lord for months or years, He has something to divide in us. Whether you are a pastor or an ordinary church attendee, He has something to separate in us.  Whether you are a fired-up or burned-up disciple, you will find Jesus’ winnowing fan in you.

Allow Him to come. Allow Him to separate.