This is a time of the year when we sit back and watch God grow our gardens. What are you growing in your garden? –Corn — Beans — Tomatoes — Potatoes — or maybe even some Flowers.
The truth is that we can’t really grow seeds (anymore than a doctor can heal someone). Each one of us sow many seeds in our lifetime. The things we say and do each day are seeds cast out. Seeds of Faith — Seeds of Kindness Seeds during our Witnessing — or Financial Seeds in our Giving. Some of the seeds that we sow are Good Seeds and some of them are Bad Seeds. (The old expression of someone sowing wild oats – is a good example of Bad Seeds).
Galatians 6 : 7 & 8 says: “Do not be deceived : God can not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please The Spirit, from The Spirit will reap Eternal Life.” Just as we have a choice of what seeds we plant in our gardens or our fields, we also have a choice of the seeds we sow in our lives.
The Bible tells us not to fall in love with this world (1st John 2 : 15 – 17) John also said in that same passage that the world and it’s desires pass away; but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Some people think that if they do more good deeds in life than bad ones, that God will save them automatically – just because they have tipped the scales toward the good side. But that is not how it works. Just as surely as the fact that we can not grow anything without God’s help, we can not save ourselves by our good deeds.
But thanks be unto God – He has provided a way that each person on earth can be saved. In John 14:6, Jesus himself says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If you are not humbling yourself to accept God’s Free Gift of Salvation, then you are sowing seeds of Disbelief. It is time to plant the most important seed in your life, by allowing Jesus Christ to be your Lord and your Savior.
How is your Eternal Garden Growing ?
Jim Jackson
The Shirley Friends Church