David Grousnick

In the early 1920’s Philo Farnsworth was working on a farm, plowing a straight line on a potato farm. His mind was far away, thinking about the possibility of transmitting moving pictures through the air.

He had no electronic or engineering background, nor was he a scientist. No one in the world of science would have considered him a serious contender in the chase to find the answer to photographic transmission without the aid of wires.

Scientists from all over the world had been struggling to solve this dilemma and although many had been aided by research grants, no one came up with the answer.

So, what chance did Farnsworth, a potato farmer with no education, have?

While plowing, he imagined a different approach. He imagined dividing a screen into long rows just like the field he was plowing, using electricity to create areas of light and darkness at each point along the row. Then stacking the rows on top of each other, he imagined that they could bring to focus a picture. Bingo!

The results were better than anything the world of science had ever conceived. It is the very system used today in a standard television.

What did Farnsworth invent? Television.

It was his vivid imagination coupled with a propensity toward science that has literally changed the world. But unfortunately, he was not credited with the idea since he was only 14 years old.

Two businessmen, George Everson and Les Gorrell took an interest in Farnsworth and invested their life savings in his research. Despite his age, they had faith in him and on September 7, 1927, Farnsworth transmitted history’s first electronic television picture.

Our world changed because Philo Farnsworth kept his hands on the plow and never looked back.

Keeping your hand to the plow is not a part of our usual vocabulary in our time. So, consider Luke 9:51-62.

In Luke 9:62, “Jesus said, ‘No one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

A plowman, simply, was one who used or held the plow; husbandmen and plowmen are used synonymously in the Scriptures. The plowman was a farmer in general.

The scratch plow of biblical times, like a one-legged stool, required full attention to use.

It was lightly built, with the least possible skill or expense, and consisted of two poles, which crossed each other near the ground. The pole nearest an animal or two, was fastened to the yoke.

The other pole had a double purpose. One end was the handle, and the other as the plowshare that broke up the ground and it was pulled along, either by oxen, camels, cows, or heifers. The operator of this instrument is a plowman.

Plowing like this required the full attention by the plowman or the furrows would be crooked, not straight. Being a follower of Christ requires such attention and focus!

A guard in charge of a lighthouse along a dangerous coast was given enough oil for one month and told to keep the light burning every night.

One day a woman asked for oil so that her children could stay warm.

Then a farmer came. His son needed oil for a lamp so he could read.

Another needed some for an engine. The guard saw each as a worthy request and gave some oil to satisfy all. By the end of the month, the tank in the lighthouse was dry.

That night the beacon was dark, and three ships crashed on the rocks. More than one hundred lives were lost. The lighthouse attendant explained what he had done and why. But the prosecutor replied, “You were given only one task: to keep the light burning. Every other thing was secondary. You have no excuse.”

Temptation for Christ followers is a choice between good and evil. But perhaps more insidious than temptation is conflict where one must choose between two good options. The lighthouse keeper in our story found himself in such a conflict situation.

So also, are the would-be disciples in Luke 9:51-62.

Many years ago, a young man went to work at a hardware store. He found all sorts of junk that took up space but did not sell well. This clerk asked the owner to allow him to put it all on one table and sell each item for 10 cents. He did so and had a successful sale.

Later he did the same thing and had another successful sale. The clerk approached the owner and suggested that they open a store specializing in items that cost only a nickel or dime. The owner thought it was a bad idea and refused. The clerk went into business for himself and became very successful with his idea.

His name was F. W. Woolworth.

His old employer later said, ‘I have calculated that every word I used to turn young Woolworth down cost me a million dollars.’

Jesus wants his followers to consider what they are in for, but he does not want them to waste their lives over the matter without ever making up their minds. The all-consuming claim of Jesus is too important!

Matters of the Kingdom of God just will not wait. Obedience is necessary when Jesus calls.

Have a great weekend!