Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. – Galatians 6:7
Just a short distance from where I live, there are several fields and orchards with tall corn stalks, various other vegetables, and fruit trees. While I find fresh produce to be tasty and enjoyable, I know that a lot of effort is put into producing a good crop.
To reap a good harvest and have a bountiful supply of vegetables, farmers must plant their seed in good soil, and work to keep the ground tilled, the plants watered, and new plants protected. The fruit trees need to be pruned and watered often to yield an abundant crop. Some of the fruit will not be harvested until late in the season, so when the temperature gets cold at night, more effort must be expended to make sure the fruit does not freeze. Some farmers even use gas turbine engines to keep the air around the trees above freezing temperatures.
Just as farmers put great effort into cultivating crops, we must also strive to bring forth spiritual fruit in our lives. The process starts with the good seed that God plants in our hearts at salvation. We can help cultivate that seed by reading God’s Word and praying daily. We also have to let the Lord “prune” us so that we can bear more spiritual fruit and be effective and pleasing to Him.
At times, trials may come our way that seem to be more than we can handle, similar to freezing weather that can destroy a fruit crop. A close connection to God is what will keep our hearts from becoming cold and also help us to grow strong spiritually. When we keep our eyes focused on Him and trust His promises, we find it much easier to endure trials.
Sometimes a natural disaster destroys a crop through no fault of the farmer. However, our focus verse promises that will never happen in our spiritual lives. The effort we invest into the Gospel will reap a just reward. If we keep our hand in His, we have a promise that He will make “every thing beautiful in his time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).