FARMERS BE THERE
Farming is indisputably the first and most important profession in the world. During creation, God recognized that "there was no one to work the ground". Then God formed a man from the dust of the ground (how appropriate for a farmer). God put Adam, the first farmer, in the Garden of Eden to work it and care for it. Adam and Eve, the first farm wife, didn't follow the landlord's instructions, so they were evicted. Because of Adam's disobedience, God cursed the land with weeds requiring Adam and all future farmers to sweat and painfully toil to produce crops.
Farmers understand the unknown and toil involved with growing crops and livestock under the curse for man's sin. Jesus, a carpenter, was very knowledgeable about farmers and He used agriculture often in His parables and teaching. The story of the farmer sowing seed on different soil conditions is a clear explaination of the ways that people respond to the word of God. The parable of the weeds is a powerful comparison to the Kingdom of Heaven. The wheat and the weeds are allowed to grow together until the harvest when the weeds are burned and the wheat brought into his barn. Jesus explained that angels will weed out of the kingdom all who do evil and only the righteous will be brought into Heaven.
The parable of the rich farmer, who built bigger barns to store his abundant harvest, is a serious warning. He belived that he had plenty laid up for many years and planned to take life easy; to eat, drink and be merry. God called him a fool and took his life from him. We must be storing up treasure in Heaven and be rich toward God.
As farmers, you understand the sowing, watering, cultivating and harvesting that Jesus used to explain the Kingdom of God. The sowing, watering and cultivating take place during our lives on earth but the harvest is eternal life in Heaven. BE THERE for the harvest. Without a successful harvest, farming is in vain. Scripture says: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. People reap what they sow. Those who sow to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; those who sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life," BE THERE! Be a farmer sowing for God and BE THERE in His eternal harvest. Can you imagine farming in Heaven where there will be no weeds, insects, drought or storm to destroy? Revelations 22 describes crops yielding 12 harvest each year. God needs farmers to work and harvest Heaven's crops.
Based on: Genesis 1:9-13, 1:29. 2:17-24, 9:20; Matthew 13:18-23, 13:36-43; Luke 12:16-21, 12:33; Galatians 6:7-8; Revelations 22:1-5.
