Botanical Beauties and Bible Basics

Having tried my trowel in a modest 3- by 4-foot plot surrounding our mailbox, I felt primed to take on a more sizable project. So, in a spurt of gleeful ambition, my husband and I declared war on the 100-plus feet of backyard over-brush, hoping to cultivate a small ridge for our first “real” flowerbed. Easy enough—or so this city girl thought. Eager as we get about first time yard endeavors, the road of “trial and error” has been well-worn. I am, however, pleased that the tidbits of horticultural knowledge acquired have delivered more than a greener thumb. Almost embarrassed to pen the obvious, three gardening fundamentals have captured my interest because of their striking correlation to spiritual realities. Humbled and enlightened, please bear with the amateur lingo.

Basic Fact #1: Neglected soil is hard to hoe.

From what I hear, our backyard flowerbeds were once flourishing with a variety of botanical beauties, each one carefully chosen for continual blossoms throughout the summer. Needless to say, hours of back-breaking work digging up bulbs and bushes confirmed the hearsay. Uprooting established plants or nature’s sporadic foliage is no sissy’s job. And just when you turn your back, more late-bloomers make their appearance, summoning another evening of labor. In comparison, our spiritual “garden” is already speckled with unattended, undesirable “foliage” that becomes more firmly rooted with each sinful indulgence. Hoeing up bad habits and weeding out pet sins will be a life-long, arduous process. Often, the discovery of what lay beneath the surface is daunting as you uncover what seems like an impossible extraction. Plopping pretty little seeds atop an underground “beast” will not suffice. Only those surrendered to hard work, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, will cultivate adequate soil, well-groomed for lasting spiritual growth.

Basic Fact #2: Seeds take a long time to grow.

So there I stood, perusing through the amazing variety of flowers in seedling form. Working with a tighter budget, I opted for the plant-it-yourself seed packets rather than the easy-peasy, already-in-bloom greenhouse transplants. Yet, as I began to realize the time needed between that moment and a flourishing flowerbed, I could feel my inner self bubble over in a Midwestern “Uffda!” Here I will refrain from placing the lion’s share of the blame for our lack of patience on our society’s countless “instant” conveniences. Gadgets and gismos are not the culprits. Do we not each possess a deceitful heart that fools us into believing lasting success on any level can be attained without routine, yes daily, self-discipline? No spiritual Miracle-Gro can deliver a quick and easy harvest of good fruit. If we are to “be perfect, just as [our] Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48, NKJV), we must humbly admit that we are in it for the long haul.

Basic Fact #3: The harvest is determined at the time of planting.

With over a hundred choices before me, I knew I’d be in aisle 2 for a while. Decisiveness is not one of my chief qualities, and I never did find the big white box labeled “SEEDS.” Rather, each seed pouch displayed a picture of what an attentive gardener should find weeks after planting. No tricks. No surprises. No disappointments. The choices I made at the purchase-and-plant stage determined the look, smell, shape and color scheme of my garden. If then we do not stand in stooped amazement to discover that begonia seeds do indeed develop—as pictured—into beautiful, leafy begonias, why such consternation when we reap unpleasant consequences from unwise choices? Why the bewilderment when days, months or years of spiritual neglect leave us feeling distant from God, emotionally and spiritually weak or depressed at the shape our lives have taken? So easy to believe begonia seeds will produce begonias. So hard to believe that sowing laziness, worldliness or self-indulgence can never produce anything better than a pitiable spiritual harvest.

Accompanying these thoughts about “the basics” have been numerous occasions to learn of other professing believers wallowing in the effects of poor spiritual gardening. Wishing to offer a quick fix, I am left with no “easy” button in sight. Brief glimpses into their current state uncover a panorama of spiritual negligence. Being an amateur gardener is one thing. Being a Christian who fails to implement the Bible basics is quite another, bearing ramifications both now and for eternity. Failure in the smallest, most intrinsic spiritual disciplines is what quietly, gently pushes one toward ruin. No abundant harvest will be gathered while cruising on autopilot. The momentum of our sinful nature will always swing away from godliness. Sadly, the lack of effort, perseverance and faith is reaping a harvest of unwanted over-brush. Neglecting the fundamentals has become the fundamental problem.

Fundamental #1: God’s Word is our spiritual food. Daily intake is needed for spiritual health and growth.

For most of us, food consumption is a highlight of any normal day. On three-plus glorious occasions, we consciously relish each bite of food, subconsciously meeting the inborn demands of our bodies. Yet, there are days when we must consciously meet the demands of our bodies, being less conscious of the pleasure it brings. Regardless of how, when or where we consume our vittles—our bodies need food to function! So, too, is the relationship in view as we consider our spiritual vitality. Supposing that daily Bible intake is only expected for those in the religious field is as preposterous as regarding daily food intake only essential for gourmet chefs. Equally illogical is undermining the importance of it in the lives of our children (when did David the giant-killer develop his spiritual strength if not in his youth?). How can we expect to thrive spiritually if we do not absorb the steady rainfall of doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction (2 Tim. 3:16)? How can a malnourished Christian ever resemble the stability of the “tree planted by the rivers of water” (Ps. 1:3)—never wavering, never withering, always prospering, always producing? Continual Bible intake is the most fundamentally basic spiritual activity, imbibing that which fully possesses the power needed for complete spiritual maturity. Its neglect puts us on a short road toward spiritual starvation.

Fundamental #2: Committed, regular participation in the local church is vital to spiritual welfare, personally and collectively.

It is the neglect of this God-ordained institution that has boggled me most in recent years. Whether distracted by misplaced priorities, dominated by a jam-packed schedule or disillusioned by a “bad experience,” I am finding that many professing believers, old and young alike, are often found doing the same thing Sunday morning—staying out of church. No matter the cause, they attempt to survive as spiritual island-dwellers. I guess my “surprise” comes as I find the New Testament furnished with sufficient direction on the matter. If the clear-cut “forsake not” command of Hebrews 10:25 fails to persuade, how would the metaphorical body of Christ or the utility of one’s spiritual gift be explained by a sporadic church-goer? To be sure, admitting to being merely a “part” of something may not stroke the ego. Nor, perhaps, would rising early each weekend excite the lethargic. Yet, it is the collective commitment of “every part [doing] its share” (Eph. 4:16) that fits God’s prescription for a healthy church—and, consequently, healthy Christian. How can the neglect of weekly accountability, Christian fellowship, mutual edification and exhortation from preacher and parishioner (not to mention opportunities to look outside ourselves and serve others) somehow morph us into spiritual hulks, prepared to meet physical, emotional and spiritual adversities? Let’s penetrate deeper. Jesus made His relational priorities unquestionably clear. He redefined His “brother…sister and mother” to be “whoever does the will of [His] Father” (Matt. 12:50). What then do we say when family functions trump our attendance at spiritual family gatherings, even in the name of “evangelism”? Will we allow our culture, the school system, the local event calendar or our own extended family to determine our priorities or will God? Casting aside this crucial fundamental leaves us as vulnerable as a storm-tossed tugboat (Eph. 4:14), as misguided as a stray sheep (I Pet. 5:2-3, 2 Tim. 4:1-5), and as ineffective as a tool inside the toolbox (Eph. 4:11-12). Embracing it places us in God’s greenhouse of spiritual vitality.

Fundamental #3: Memorizing Scripture is the best way to gain victory over sin.

If we attest that the Word of God is the most fundamentally effective weapon for spiritual warfare, then would not Scripture memorization naturally be the best way to wield its usefulness? No handy Ipod Touch can outwit a mind programmed to pull up spiritual weaponry at any moment of the day. This, dear reader, unquestionably requires work, time and initiative, yet the payoff is rich. The verbiage of Proverbs 6:21-22 lays it out plainly:

Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with you.

For most of us, gone are the days of rehearsing our A-B-C’s and 1-2-3’s. As exhilarating as Kindergarten was at age 5, we’ve since moved on. Yet seldom as we consciously realize, every time we peruse the newspaper, balance the checkbook or jot an e-mail, we are drawing upon the fundamentals learned so long, long ago. The basic spiritual disciplines are no less essential. Little did we know the Sunday school ditty, “Read your Bible, pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow,” was more than just a chance to stand on top of our chairs, trying to imagine how tall we would grow. Its message comprised the backbone of our spiritual existence. Years later when we find ourselves “shrink, shrink, shrinking,” we need only renew our commitment to the Bible basics. Yes, those who work hard, patiently persevere and believe in the promised rewards of spiritual diligence can stop crossing their fingers. They can let out the bated breath. An abundant spiritual harvest will be delivered. True in Gardening 101. True in Life 101.

Heather Schopf serves from her home as a wife and mother. She ministers alongside her husband, John, who is the pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Lord has blessed them with three children, Jacob, Reagan and Toviah. In 2006, Heather and her family (mom and sister) began writing original sacred music compositions and arrangements. The Lord has allowed this passion to develop into their music ministry, Forever Be Sure, which began in 2008.