Hidden Treasure

It is late September; it’s time to harvest the carrots, whether they are ready or not.

Recent rains have softened the soil, but that is not enough to encourage the ground to let loose of its treasure. I sit amongst the flimsy fronds and claw around their base. Carefully I scrape away the dirt and mulch, and tear away the ever present crabgrass vines.

Picking ripe tomatoes and cucumbers takes much less effort!

Many of the carrot roots are tiny. Did I plant them too close together? Was I supposed to let them grow for a year? If I plant these again, I will gather more information from experienced carrot growers.

Some of my carrot roots are broken. Did this happen while I was harvesting them, or had some animal eaten them underground? If there is carrot root still in the ground, will it sprout next spring? I will leave this part of the garden unplanted next year, just in case!

I am eager to wash these carrots and have a taste. I have plans to roast them and share them with my family. But for now, I am still in wonder at the effort it took to unearth them.

Is there some gift to the world that lies buried within us, covered in the dirt of our past and the debris of our lives? Will God need to scrape away much of the comfortable space around us to expose that gift, to allow that gift to nourish others?

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly. Titus 2:11-12.

Often, I would like God to manifest Himself in my life without having to change anything. And sometimes He does. Once those tomato plants have reached their prime, their fruit is easily available. But other times, the current situation may need to change. I may need to dig up the ground, scrape off the dirt, and remove the entanglements before I can access the gift God has given me.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1.

Now the carrots are exposed, freed from the soil which held them tightly and the crabgrass entangling them. But they are not clean yet; they are not ready to be put to good use. I still need to rinse them, probably scrub them, maybe parboil them to get them ready. Is God doing this to me, for me? Is God cleansing me of all the dirt and grime in my life, so that I can be put to His good use?

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! Hebrews 9:14.

Sometimes we need to work in tandem with God, clearing away the debris, digging away the layers of dirt, until we expose the treasure buried deep. Only then can we use that good bounty to nourish others and further His kingdom.

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10.

Is there some unrighteous dirt covering the beautiful treasure God has given you? There was a lot of dirt covering the carrots and clinging tenaciously to them. Once they are clean, I will have a feast. God is preparing a feast and wants to add the treasure hidden within you to the bountiful harvest. Won’t you bring your good crop and join Him?

Betsy