The Good Gardener

Have you ever wondered why some people who started out with a big bang with the Lord, full of vim, vigor, and zeal, seem to peter out, not stay the course? Could matters of the heart perhaps give us a clue?

Take the widow of Sarepta, she of the miracle of the never ending oil and flour. Her story is referenced time and again as a prime example of God's supernatural provision, the result of His being given to first. As true as this is, her miracle did not start with her meager offering to the man of God. No, it started sometime before that ...

After hiding at the Brook Cherith from the wicked king bent on his death, God directed Elijah to his next stop. He used an interesting phrase in those directions, saying, "I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee ..." (1 Kings 17:9). That miracle of the multiplication of food didn't just happen because Elijah showed up and said, "Give me a little cake first." No, God had prepared the lay of the land way before Elijah even had an inkling that such a widow existed. God had prepared her heart. His spirit had wooed her, softened her, called her to obey the words of the living God. Her heart had been prepared. And why did God use this specific woman? Because of all the women in Zarephath, this was the woman who was willing to lend her heart to God. Is this story an anomaly or are there other similar stories in the Bible? Yes, there are!

At Mt. Sinai, on the cusp of the Israelites hearing from God, He tells Moses, "Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai" (Exodus 19:10-13). There were other admonitions: abstinence, not to touch the mount or come near it until the trumpet sounded long. But the crux of the matter was that, to hear directly from God, the Israelites had to prepare not only their hearts, but their physical bodies as well. Their entire self had to be focused solely on God.

Just a little fun insert—this is one passage saints of old leaned on for the "wear your best to church" mantra with which so many of us grew up, as well as its companion saying, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." And there's truth in those words. God expected people who came into His presence to clean up, look their best. Would we go looking our scroungy worst to meet the president of a country? Why should it be different when we prepare to meet with the God whom our soul desires? Anyway, back to hearts ...

Back in Egypt, when they were still slaves, the children of Israel were given specific instructions as to how to prepare for the final plague. In Exodus 12:1-20 God gives the list of items they had to get ready in anticipation of God's tenth and final plague, His culminating act that would result in their liberation from the land of their enslavement. Their miraculous freedom didn't just "happen." No, they had to show by their actions and preparations that they believed that God would indeed move on their behalf. Those who did not believe suffered the same fate as their unbelieving enslavers. To receive the deliverance, there had to be a heart readiness that translated into actions.

In Matthew 13, in the parable of the sower, Jesus describes what happens to the seed that falls on ground that is not prepared. In a word, nothing good. Without soft soil to provide all that the roots needed, the plants sprung up quickly but without depth and were soon scorched and withered. Ah, but where the ground was tilled, prepared, softened ... the seed "brought forth fruit, some an hunderedfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." We yearn for miracles. God yearns to give them to us. But they don't just "happen." They can only spring up from soft, prepared earth.

Dennis is a dedicated gardener. He finds joy in working nine months out of the year to produce fruit and vegetables that grace our table and that of loved ones and friends. But his bounty doesn't just magically spring up. He diligently prepares the ground, tilling time and time again, way more than an unseasoned gardener such as myself would think to do. The end result? Wonderfully soft and nurturing dirt, the perfect environment for the seed that will be planted. Even so, our hearts.

To reap the wonders of God's majesty in our lives is not the result of happenstance. It is the result of a heart prepared for the touch of the Master. Jesus talked about hard hearts. If there are hard hearts, then there must be soft, tender hearts. Hearts fit for the Master's use.

God doesn't decide flippantly, "Oh, I think I'll bless this guy here. No, I won't bless that guy there," kind of hop scotching around and throwing blessings willy-nilly. There is purpose in His blessings. There is design in His blessings. His eyes go back and forth all over the world seeking those who seek Him, who have a tender, soft heart yearning to hear from Him (2 Chronicles 6:9).

I think that's where the petered-out Christians miss it, thinking that this tilling of the heart is a one time thing, a get saved, you're good-to-go experience, no more heart-work needed. Dennis tills his garden before he plants seed, during the growing season (between rows), and (this really took me by surprise), even when he calls it quits for the year and pulls the left over scraps of plants up. For the best results, the tilling must be continual.

God, help us not to be those of unbelieving hearts that Paul referenced in Hebrews 3:12. May we be of the company of those who ever strive to keep their hearts tender towards You, ever ready for a touch from You.

 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23) .