God's Garden - Pt. 14

 

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 65:17-25 ESV).

 

We have a bit of a humorous principle which we have adopted in our family. I have been told over and over again, “Dad, don’t plant any fruit trees.” There is a reason for such an enjoinder. Every time I have done so, we end up moving before the trees mature enough for their first real harvest. So, not wanting to move, especially now, I am only permitted to plant wild grapevines. This cycle is not new. It has happened again and again over the last twenty years. I began the cycle with four sapling peach trees at our first home in Weatherford, Texas. And sure enough four years after planting, when the branches were heavy with fruit, we moved before harvesting one single peach! Through the years that same scenario has been observed. At our last home in Tennessee, we had peaches, apples, figs, blackberries, and blueberries. All were ready for a bountiful harvest as we were packing to move back to Texas!

 

Well, at least someone was able to enjoy the fruit of my labor. Of course, this experience cannot begin to compare with the bygone days recalled for God’s people by the prophet Isaiah. While there had been highs of tending gardens that yielded bountiful harvests, there had also been lows of being plundered by enemies. Notice the promise of today’s reading. It is an aspect of the Lord’s comfort for his people. He yearns to restore them to safe homes and bountiful gardens, to bless the work of faithful servants. A more amazing reality is mentioned in the surrounding verses — a new heaven and a new earth. That might seem to be beyond our asking or imagining in this flawed world. Nonetheless, it is God’s promise pointing to life forever with him, when Christ comes again. Tending my garden and enjoying its harvest reminds and comforts me with this mindboggling reality that will come someday. I will finally see the greatest harvest of all and know all the work was worth it!