Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Springtime has arrived as indicated leaves on the mesquites, which also means that it’s planting time for summer crops.
After the great flood, God promised that as long as the Earth endures, seedtime and harvest would continue (Genesis 8:22). For that to come about, God provides all we need to grow crops, including sunshine, rain, the seed and even the agricultural knowledge (Matthew 5:45; Deuteronomy 11:10-16; 2 Corinthians 9:10; Isaiah 28:23-29).
No matter how busy we get, we must never forget God’s providence and generate a return on that investment by doing whatever we can (Exodus 20:8-11; 34:21; Psalm 107:31-38; 67:5-7; Isaiah 17:10-11; Jeremiah 5:23-25; Hebrews 10:19-30). This is more directly related to sowing the seed of his word, the gospel of salvation, so others can learn about his greatest investment in all humankind’s eternal future (Romans 3:23; 6:23; John 3:16; Luke 8:4-15). We’re to sow the word and cultivate it so it can grow in the lives of others, although they bear the personal responsibility for that as well to allow it to grow and not get choked out (Luke13:6-9; Matthew 13:20-22).
If we cannot do any one aspect of this cultivation, we can do another, like the Apostle Paul, who was kept from preaching in Rome, so he wrote them a letter (Luke 16:1-9; Romans 1:13-17; Mark 14:1-9; Ecclesiastes 9:10; 11:6). Even our example should be a means of sowing the seed (1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:15-16). We can get help with the work and help others, and when we do our part, our efforts will bear fruit, but we must have faith in God and his promises (Matthew 9:37-38; 13:31-35; Isaiah 55:10-11; Mark 4:26-29; Luke 13:18-19; 17:5-6). Each of us has a role in the process from planting to harvest, and whatever we do, if we try our best, we’ll share equally in the end (John 4:35-38; 1 Samuel 30:21-24; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9; Hebrews 6:7-12; Hosea 10:12; Revelation 14:13).
We must be careful, though, because Satan does all he can to hamper our success in sowing the gospel seed (Mark 4:14-15; 2 Corinthians 4:4). So we must be aware of his tactics and prepared to prevent his interference (2 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 6:10-18). One way Satan hampers our success is by mixing bad seed with the good (Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:9). The impure seed of incorrect teaching sends mixed messages to the soil of the world causing us to sow in vain (Hosea 8:7; Leviticus 26:14-16). So we must be sure to always teach the truth only (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Galatians 1:6-9).
The final harvest is coming at which time Jesus will come and this world will end, but God’s word and promises will stand (Revelation 14:15-20; 2 Peter 3:8-15; 1 Peter 1:22-25; Hebrews 6:13-20). Every person who ever lived will be gathered, and the good and bad fruit will be separated (John 5:24-29; Matthew 13:24-30; 25:31-46).
Have you allowed the seed of the gospel to grow in your life to be a productive seed-sowing Christian (James 1:21-25)?
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].