
We had such a sweet afternoon at the farm. It is a favorite memory of mine before they left. Ron loved being out at the farm. He loved a farm girl (my mom-in-law) and he loved all the farmers that came along with her. In fact, although Ron was a life-long learner and educator, I think his first job was that of a farmer.
Ron was a farmer and the many people who attended his prayer service and memorial service a few weeks ago, as well as the many who couldn't attend but sent cards and stories, are a testimony to the success of Ron's farming.
Ron impacted many lives. It was his habit. Like a good farmer, he was intentional with everything he did. He was an intentional relationshiper; intentional in his relationship with Jesus, his relationship with his wife, kids and grandkids, and intentional in every relationship he had.
There is a story in the bible about a farmer; it's called the Parable of the Sower and the farmer in this story reminds me of Ron.
This farmer scatters seed on 4 different kinds of soil. In fact, some of the seed actually falls on a path. Now, any farmer could tell you that you don't waste seed on the gravel road, but this farmer does. The seed he scatters lands on a path, it lands on rocky soil, weedy soil and good soil. Now, if we were simply talking about soil, that would seem a little short sighted on the part of the farmer. Why, after all, wouldn't you just scatter the seed on the known good soil? But we're not really talking about soil…we're talking about human hearts. Jesus was always concerned about the heart. Ron Messelt planted seeds in every heart he connected with - on purpose.
By his words and his actions, people knew they were loved, cared for, that they mattered and they could make a difference. Ron faithfully planted seeds everywhere, never judging the heart of the person he was with, because he knew he was not in charge of making the seeds grow…he was simply in charge of planting them.
From there, like every good farmer, Ron trusted. He trusted in Jesus; trusted Jesus for his salvation and He trusted Jesus to grow the seeds of faith and love for God that he planted in each heart. He was a good farmer and the success of his farming was obvious in the sheer number of lives he impacted.
So the question is, what kind of soil is your heart?
Is your heart feeling like a path - a gravel road? Does it feel so hard that nothing good could possible penetrate it? When the Word of God falls on your heart; when HOPE is presented - does it feel like it just gets snatched away? Pray. Ask God to do the work of softening your heart; picking out the stones and stirring up the ground until the good soil is on top. Put your hope in Him.
Is your heart feeling like rocky soil? Peoples' thoughts about faith and your own lack of understanding is stealing your desire to step forward in faith and receive the Word of God for your life? Ask God to soften your heart, pull out the rocks and plant some flowers. Put your trust in Him.
Is your heart feeling like weedy soil? Do the worries and pressures of this life choke off any amount of faith you can muster? Cast your cares and your worry on God and put your faith in Him.
Is your heart feeling like good soil? Allow the Word of God to impact you daily. Make your relationship with Jesus your first priority. Live every aspect of your life - relationships to vocation - for Christ and His glory.
My father-in-law experienced his Day of Victory (the day he went home to be with the Lord) on February 22, but the fruit from his farming will be harvested for decades to come. I can only hope the same can be said of my own life one day. How about you?
John 12:24 "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, I produces many seeds."