Imagine standing at the edge of a field after a long season of planting, and you finally see that the first grain is ready. It isn’t much compared with the size of the field. You can’t fill a barn with it. You can’t feed a family with it. But that first portion means something enormously important: The harvest has started.

In the Old Testament, Israel was instructed to bring the first portion of the harvest—the firstfruits —to God. They didn’t wait until everything had been harvested and safely stored away. They brought the first while the rest of the harvest was still in the field. Think about the faith involved in that. The firstfruits looked backward and said, “God has provided.” But they also looked toward the field and said, “And we believe there’s more.” That’s why Paul’s description of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15 is so powerful. Paul doesn’t simply say that Jesus rose from the dead. He says Jesus became the firstfruits . The resurrection wasn’t an isolated miracle. It was the beginning of a harvest. Jesus died. He was buried. Then on the third day, life came out of the ground. The empty tomb became evidence that death doesn’t get the final word. And because Jesus is the firstfruits , His resurrection points beyond itself. If there’s a first, there’s more coming.

Now think about your own life. What if some of what you’re celebrating today isn’t the whole harvest? What if it’s firstfruits? Maybe you’ve seen the beginning of restoration in your family, but there’s more. Maybe you’ve seen God change something in you, but there’s more. Maybe a prayer has begun to be answered, but there’s more. Maybe you’ve seen someone you’ve invested in begin to grow, but there’s more. Maybe you’ve seen God use your gifts in ways you never expected, but there’s more. Don’t despise what has already appeared because it isn’t everything you hoped for.

The first fruit isn’t disappointing because the field isn’t finished. It’s exciting because the harvest has begun.