The last tree in our front yard died of old age. Who knew trees had a lifespan? As I pondered buying and planting live oak trees in my front yard, I stumbled upon acorns all over the ground in Hershey Park this morning. I wondered if I might plant two of them strategically and grow our own trees instead of buying mature trees and planting them. If we do, we will plant trees that give shade to future generations. We may never sit under their shade. Someone knows more about this than I, I am sure. But I know for sure that we only ever reap what we sow.
With their idolatry, worshiping Calf-gods, the Israelites of the northern kingdom planted the wind. Hosea said they planted the wind and reaped a tornado. Idolatry gone to seed brings forth spiritual destruction.
Remember the scene in Second-hand Lions when the tough character played by Robert Duvall realizes that the different vegetables, they thought they had planted all came up as corn. Whatever the label on the packet of seeds, if one actually plants corn, only corn will grow.
Our hearts are idol-making factories. What wind are we planting? What are the idols that we need to disavow today? Pastor Kerry Tillmon reminded us that like Jacob’s family, we must leave behind our idols to return to “Bethel”, to the Lord’s presence in the house of God. The wind of idolatrous nothingness, planted deep in our souls gives birth to a tornado that destroys us and others.
On the other hand, if we sow to the Spirit, we will reap what the Spirit alone can give. To be an acorn is to have a taste for becoming an Oak Tree. As we plant God’s word in our hearts, we anticipate Isaiah’s promise that we will become Oaks of Righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor (Isaiah 61:3).
