That barren spot...a story from my garden

Back before winter was over, we made the decision to take down the old plum tree. It didn't bare edible fruit. It just dropped dirty plops on the cement that stained the concrete, stunted all the plant growth around and under it and blocked the light from hitting the boys window. I tend to the think this is the effect of sin in our lives, so this tree has been a teaching example to me. Since becoming homeowners, there has always been a temptation to not be content in what we have, wanting more, (being tempted to think we NEED more), but this one spot in the garden has been a huge instrument in teaching me all we need is Christ. When we come in humility to the grace-filled Savior, we come face to face with light; we are a new creation. Let me explain in terms of my garden.

The barren spot I wrote about in my last post is now flooded with wild flowers planted from seed! They seemed to sprout so slow that I was tempted to think nothing would come of them. I complained about the soil, damaged from the tree and all it dropped and left behind...(I'm still finding twigs and shoots from that tree in the same way I still find places of sin in my life. While they are no longer my master, they often come out in times of selfishness and fear. The weeds tend to come out when I've neglected my garden or busyness draws me away. What an illustration that is for how we should tenderly care for our spiritual growth.) But, this spot is FULL of beauty and wildness. It isn't planned like the rest of my garden. It hasn't been trained to look a certain way. I didn't plan for water needs, light needs, hardiness. I scattered seeds and let them be and now look at them! So many beautiful colors, some dainty stems and some thick and strong. The flowers are surrounded by foxglove, clematis and columbine finished blooming for their season so their wildflower friends can fully show off their colors and demand all the attention.

This is the light of Christ, being grafted into Him, displaying a new creation, what once was barren is now blooming with the proof of the gospel. Derek is currently preaching through a series on evangelism: telling the truth. It's been powerful in reminding me that we respond to God's grace by proclaiming Him in ALL we do. This garden proclaims Him, so should I! For all I did was scatter the seeds and water them occasionally. But oh man, what if the seeds I scatter are gospel truths scattered in soil ready for planting by someone else who has tilled the ground with gospel truths, and someone else waters the ground with gospel truth. All of this is accomplished by the grace of God. No longer would we see a rotten-fruit bearing tree, but a harvest of beautiful wild flowers eager to display the glory of God.

Maybe that is a lot to get out of a barren spot in my garden, but oh how thankful I am.