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Lessons From the Garden
By Steve Keyes
I spend a lot of time quietly observing the micro universe that is my backyard vegetable garden. I’ve come to recognize that in some ways, it is a picture of how God interacted with His garden and its inhabitants.
Take the red wasps. Ordinarily, seeing them would prompt a person to start swatting and hopping around, ducking and diving to get out of their way. Safely removed, they might even reach for a can of Raid to end the wasps’ existence in the kingdom of the living.
But in my garden, I watch as the wasps hover, inspecting a leaf. Then they move to the next and begin inspecting it, their tireless wings operating in ‘station-keeping’ mode. Ceaselessly, they make their way around the garden in search of aphids or other bugs and insects that might be feasting on the life energy of my plants.
The wasps and I have a friendly interaction. By their mere presence looking for food, they do me a favor, and I don’t bother them in their pursuits. As I slowly make my way down the rows, picking peas or plucking tomatoes, they slowly relocate out of my way. I never feel obligated to use harsh chemicals to remove them. In all the years I’ve had gardens, I haven’t been stung a single time!
In some ways, I think this must have been how God felt about His garden. Leisurely strolling through it, he observed all He had created. He saw that it was good. Sin hadn’t entered the world yet and His interactions with it and its inhabitants were peaceful and beneficial to all.
But this symbiosis changed when sin came. Sin was the harsh chemical that upset the beautiful relationship between the Master and His Creation. Just as spraying Raid kills good and bad bugs alike and necessitates special precautions when harvesting the produce, sin forever changed God’s world and His relationship with it. The beauty of Creation had been irreparably marred.
Thankfully, He is not a vengeful God. He only wants what’s best for me. Just like me and my wasps. Sin has entered the Garden and the original harmony has been damaged. But rather than destroy the garden or its inhabitants God exercised love and offered a way of transformation. This transformation allows us to fulfill our original purpose.
This transformational message is emphasized at Northpark Christian Church. Pastor Lonnie works hard to illustrate for us how God’s love is a continuous shower, nourishing us and washing us of our sin.
Imagining the full extent and meaning of love is beyond what man’s finite mind can comprehend. We may not fully comprehend the meaning and depth of this love but at Northpark we are encouraged to let God love us and love others through us. You can see it in the warmth of greeting you receive when you walk through the door. It is in evidence in the many outreach and missionary programs NCC actively supports. Members of the church drop what they are doing without hesitation to help a brother or sister in need. Learning of God and His plan for us is the central theme in several classes and discussion groups offered through our church.
Northpark is a happy, welcoming church engaged in saving souls and helping those less fortunate than ourselves. It is a church family you will be welcomed into no matter what has happened in the past. I encourage you to come for a visit and experience God’s love. Join us and share in learning of His wisdom. See and feel for yourself what a blessing our church is as you are guided into a more God-centered life.