A Time to Plow
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. – Hosea 10:12
These days, we are awakened early in the morning by the sound of tractors working in almost every field. I like the sound.
It is the promise of good things to come: fresh garden tomatoes, watermelon just off the vine, and a guarantee of healthy and vigorous activity for
the months ahead. It is that time of year—the time to break up the ground and prepare it for planting. Without preparation, there will be no
planting; without planting, there will be no harvest.
As the farmer must take steps to prepare for a harvest of fruits, vegetables, and grains, we Christians should feel compelled to spend time getting ready
for a spiritual harvest. Our prayers are our preparation; that is how we break up any hardened or dry areas of our hearts. Once that ground is prepared,
we “sow” righteousness through reading God’s Word, spending time communing with Him, and doing His will. As we follow these steps, we can expect to
see an abundant spiritual harvest—answers to prayer, souls being saved, a closer relationship with the Lord, and God working through us to accomplish
His will. That is an exciting harvest!
In the spring, the farmer works from early light to dark. Then comes the harvest time, and again he labors long hours to bring in the year’s crop. After
summer, harvest ends and there is no more work to be done. For us, too, the time will come when the spiritual harvest will end. That gives us a sense
of urgency to see loved ones saved before it is too late. We need to prepare the soil of our own hearts first, and then bring others before the Lord
in prayer. Let us not waste the time we have, for soon the harvest will be over!