Dear Mike and all the Doves,
   In a literal sense the "first-fruit" of the wheat harvest is that which has ripened sufficiently on the stalk or "in the ear"(and apt term for us believers), not needing any further ripening or treatment in order to make it ready for processing. Wheat that is not ripened directly like this is either given more time on the stalk and or "beaten" on a Tribulum or sometimes "heated" by fire in order to make its husk fall away more readily, separating the fruit from the chaff or husk. .
   All of these have application to that which is Spiritual in nature...or in our nature. If the Saint of God has "ripened" properly by the time of the first-fruits harvest then they are ready to be winnowed and be partaken in the early crop(so pray ALWAYS that you may be counted worthy). That which is unripened or hardened "grain-fill" will need further time and tribulation in order for the "kernel" to loosen properly and the husk to fall away. Some of the methods used in modern agriculture modify the simple and direct method God has set in place and therefore our modern approach to "ripening Christian-hood" also has changed the way we mature...and probably not for the better.
  Weather this Spiritual application is a process which we can take part in or weather it is a WORK of the Lord, I believe, is still up for debate. FAITH seems to be the determining factor and was the only thing Christ ever commended men for. So trust the Potter and the Husbandman to do His WORK and you will mature in do time, weather by natural maturation or by external tribulation.
                                                                                                         Your brother, Chris K.