It's Time to Plow and Sow

Well, we are back. Now that God's fall, feast, and holy days have concluded for another year—and already, I know a lot of us are looking forward to next year, which is really good to do—we're back home. We're back home to our homes, and we need to be thinking about what do we do now? Now what do we do? Now what do we do spiritually speaking? After keeping the Feast of Tabernacles in the eighth day, do we simply go back home to our daily lives, our daily school assignments, our daily appointments, and jobs, and routines, and chores? Do we go back, do what we've always done, and so allow that inspiration, that motivation we felt powerfully during the feast, become another faded memory? Is that what we do? The answer is no. No, that's not what we're to be doing. Today we'll learn a few things. We're going to learn a few things about the ancient Israelite farmers who did what they knew to do after the harvest for the year we're done, and after God's fall festivals were concluded for another year. They knew what to do.

As it was for them, so it is for us now. And what did they do, and what should we be doing? Well, to put it simply, now it is the time to plow and sow for our future well-being. And so the title of this message is, It's Time to Plow and Sow. It's Time to Plow and Sow.

So let's talk a little bit about those Israelite farmers. I'm going to be quoting a bit from Oded Borowski's book, Agriculture in Iron Age Israel. It's an interesting book based on a lot of archaeological evidence and scripture. And we can learn a lot from those ancient Israelite farmers. As we're aware, God established his feasts and holy days to coincide with the harvest seasons of the land God promised Abraham and his descendants, which is called the Land of Canaan, and nowadays is typically called the Holy Land. The Feast of In-Gathering or Tabernacles, which we just observed was the last of God's three festival seasons in that year.

What we might not as fully appreciate as did the Israelite farmers of old, is that the feasts mark the end of the agricultural year, of the agricultural year, as they understood it. And so in his book, Oded Borowski makes this point. He states that the Feast of In-Gathering quote, concluded the period of in-gathering fruit, the harvest, and, here's the interesting point we may not realize, and it signified the beginning of the new agricultural year. It was an end, and it was a beginning, with the conclusion of the feast in the eighth day. And so the conclusion of the feast meant that another year of harvesting, yes, was completed, and those farmers, of course, did gratefully rejoice before God, even as we were doing at the feast. But that did not mean that those farmers would thereafter simply return to their homes, their houses, their villages, and take it easy. They did not return home to take a vacation from doing the things farmers need to be doing. If any of you grew up on a farm, you know what I'm talking about. There is really no break at all for farmers, just as there is no break for many people. In those ancient times, the conclusion of the final annual feast meant that it was time to get to work in preparation for the next year's harvest season. There was no break. The seasons and life continue on just as God planned for them to be.

And those farmers, you see, those farmers had to prepare for the next harvest because their future livelihood and their very lives depended upon it. If they did not prepare for the next harvest and do what they needed to do, they would have no food. They'd be very poor, possibly go hungry.

In many ways, it's similar for us. The Feast of Tabernacles is over for another year.

And though we have returned to our homes, we also simply cannot take it easy spiritually. We cannot take a spiritual vacation. We don't have time to relax from repenting of sin. There is no time for a vacation from practicing living faith. Life keeps happening to us. We have to keep responding to it in a godly way. Now is the time to be preparing ourselves for next year's feast. And also for all the repentance and the good works and the seeking of God's forgiveness and spiritual growth. All those things we must be continually doing and accomplishing with God's help.

For we do want that spiritual harvest. We do want to be among the first fruits to which we've been called. Now there is much about those ancient farmers' work that is analogous to the work we're to be doing as faithful followers of God and Jesus Christ. Paul understood this analogy, and we can understand that if we turn just briefly. Let's look at Galatians 6, verse 7 through 9.

Galatians 6, verse 7 through 9. And here we see how Paul is reminding, he reminds us, that like those ancient farmers, we reap what we sow. We reap what we sow. Galatians 6, verse 7. Paul says, do not be deceived. Don't trick yourselves. Don't trick ourselves. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. He will die. That'll be it. But he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life. And that's what we want. Verse 9. And let us not grow weary while doing good. For in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. And that certainly is true today for us. So if we hope to reap everlasting life, we need to be doing those things that will help us to produce God's righteousness in our lives, that good and true spiritual fruit. And so we dare not rest from repenting of sin, from pleasing our loving God. No time for vacation spiritually. Like those farmers, after the feast, we need to get busy preparing for that future harvest.

Now in his book, Borowski explains that during the four months following the fall festivals, following the fall festivals, was a critical time for the farmer. That would equate from the time of, well for this year, it'd be November, December, January, February. Those are critical months in the ancient area of Cain and the Holy Land. Borowski explains, he says, during the first two months of that four-month period, during the first two months of that period of sowing, the farmer planted cereals such as wheat and barley. And during the late sowing season of the next two months, the latter of those four months, he planted legumes, bean crops and that sort, lentils, and also vegetables. He says, thus four months were devoted to sowing. They were busy sowing. The reasons for such a long sowing season, he writes, besides the fact that different species are planted at different times, was the need for ground preparation, which was carried out by plowing. However, plowing in biblical time was a time and effort consuming activity. It was, it was very laborious, very hard, and very difficult. And so what we should understand is that those ancient farmers were totally dependent upon God to send them rain in due season. For in those four months, if they didn't get rain just when they needed the rain, it would throw off the timetable for all the crops they sow, and it could jeopardize the harvest they would hope to have. They needed that rain in due season. Without that rain from heaven, you see, the ground was too hard to plow. They could not dig into the ground, loosen that hard ground so the seed would have some place to root. Barrowski explains it this way. He said, sowing took place after the first rain softened the ground. The farmer had to wait for the first rain because otherwise his plow could not penetrate the ground, which had become hardened by heat and dryness and the pressure of grazing animals. And so, of course, the farmers then, as I know farmers now, have no control over the rain. Of course, some are blessed with irrigation systems. I grew up on a farm to this day. It's dry land farm, meaning it's dry if God doesn't send rain. We're very dependent up that part of the country. And so the farmer, anciently and some still today, of course, had to trust God for without rain at just the right time their harvest would be in jeopardy. Those ancient farmers, you see, were totally dependent upon God's mercy, upon God's blessing. They're much like us. And again, Barrowski explains, he says, the timing of the first rain was very crucial for ensuring an optimal period for the plants to grow and mature. If sowing had to be postponed because the first rain was late, the plants did not have enough time to develop and mature before the summer heat would dry them. And if the first rain came early and the farmer planted his field immediately afterward, there was the possibility of a long interval before the next rain would come. In this case, the germinating seeds would die, resulting in a complete loss of crops. Farming is always a risky business. Therefore, he writes, it is understandable why the Old Testament stressed the importance of observing the covenant between the Israelites and Yahweh. The blessing and curses attached to the covenant state clearly the obligations and rewards. And then the author quotes from Deuteronomy chapter 11 verse 13 through 17. I'd like to read that as well.

This is what the ancient Israelite farmers who were faithful to worship God and keep His commandments, they understood this. They lived this. Deuteronomy 11 verse 13 through 17. And here we read, and it shall be that if you earnestly obey my commandments, which I command you today, God says, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather your grain, your new wine, and your oil. It's referring to the wheat and barley crop about the first season and up through Pentecost and then also the wine, the grapes, olive oil that would be before and sometimes even during the Feast of Tabernacles time. Verse 15, and I will send grass in your fields for your livestock that you may eat and be filled. Take heed to yourselves verse 16 says, lest your heart be deceived and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them. The farmers understood they needed to be loyal to God. And continuing in verse 17, lest the Lord's anger be aroused against you and you shut up the heavens so that there be no rain and the land yield no produce and you, you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you.

And of course now, as Mr. Crane mentioned in his message, we are in drought. Some parts of this country out west for many months, again mentioning where I come from, southern Nebraska, they've had two rains this summer and each time it was with... what size is that? Ping pong size hail that pulverized their crops twice, even the replanting. So they, many farmers in that part of the country and elsewhere, are looking for rain and dew season. And my point is our country is not living according to God's way of life. We know that. And they would laugh at us and mock us for saying this, but God is not mocked and He knows what our nation is doing and it certainly seems that He is punishing us as a nation.

Well, the wise and faithful among those ancient farmers understood, as we just read here in Deuteronomy, they would have understood that they had to be faithful to obey God to keep His commandments in the way of life. They had to, they wanted to, they needed to because they wanted His blessing. They wanted the harvest. They needed the harvest. And so they would have understood the power of prayer and of devotion to God. They would have understood their personal need and their family's need to submit to God. And they would have stayed close to God, obeyed Him, and remained diligent to do all that they could do to prepare for a good harvest. They understood their responsibility to do their part to have a harvest while knowing that God ultimately would bless their efforts according to their, to His will. You see, they would have understood that if they failed to respond to God's blessing, let's say, if they did not respond to that blessing of rain that softened the ground, if they didn't get out there and start plowing but were lazy, put it off, procrastinated, the ground would get hard again and they'd have no harvest. They had exercise due diligence to plow the ground and sow their seed on it. And they themselves knew they knew they were responsible for failing then if they did not do it, failing to have a harvest. Their failure to respond well and work hard would mean lean and difficult times ahead. And again, they had about four months then to prepare their ground for all their crops and sow their crops and they had little time to waste.

Now, as I said earlier, there is much about those ancient farmers' work that is analogous to the work we're to be doing as faithful followers of God and Jesus Christ. I trust you, I understand the parallel. That's being set here in Scripture. You see, we also need to be busy preparing spiritually over the months ahead and over the next year and forever for that ultimate harvest.

For all our lives, we need to keep working for that coming harvest. And truly, we have no time to waste. We do not know if we have tomorrow. None of us does. None of us does know that. So we work the best we can. Now, God's Word instructs us in what to be doing, even as God instructed those ancient farmers in what they needed to be doing. Let's look at Isaiah chapter 28. Isaiah 28, here we read that they understood their responsibility. They understood what farming meant, what planting, tilling the ground and sowing meant. They understood it because what we see here is God instructed them. God taught them how to plant, how to develop the harvest.

Isaiah 28 verse 23 through 29. Here we read, give ear and hear my voice, listen and hear my speech. Does the plowman keep plowing all day to sow? Does he keep turning his soil and breaking the clods? That's part of preparing the ground. And when he has leveled its surface, does he not sow the black cumin?

And the scatter the cumin? These are types of small grain crops. And then he plants the wheat and rose, the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in its place. And the answer is yes, he does, as the farmer knows to do this. And why? 26. For he, referring to God, for he instructs him in right judgment. His God teaches him. God gives man wisdom to know the right time to plant and how to plant, and also, as we're going to see continuing on, how to harvest and thresh the grain.

27. For the black cumin is not threshed with a threshing sledge, it's a heavy piece of equipment, nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cumin, but the black cumin is beaten out with a stick and the cumin with the rod. They are very specific ways to harvest without destroying your harvest. That's what we're being taught here. 28. And bread flour must be ground. Therefore, he does not thresh it.

He does not thresh the wheat or the barley forever, break it with his cartwheel or crush it with his horseman. This also comes from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance. What's the point of this verse? Why are we reading this? Well, the point is this. Just as God instructed the farmer in how to prepare his ground for sowing, and just as God instructed the farmer in how to thresh each variety of grain to get the grain and the habit to eat for harvest, so does God instruct his faithful ones in how to live life his way so that we might harvest everlasting life.

His instruction in how to live faithfully in Christ is found throughout God's holy scripture, throughout the whole Bible, for those having ear to hear and an eye to see. Moreover, just as God will not bless the farmer who is not diligent to prepare his ground for sowing, or who is not diligent to thresh his grain as God instructed, so likewise will God not bless us who are not diligent spiritually to follow God's instruction and guidance in our lives and how we live today.

And so again, we need to realize and appreciate that we do not have time to waste. We do not get a spiritual vacation. We have to keep working. And so, having now been refreshed and rejuvenated, I believe, after these past weeks of keeping God's holy days, and specifically the Feast of Tabernacles, during those days we had God's Spirit being poured down upon us, as it were, like rain from heaven. As we were fed with inspiring messages, I've heard good reports from everywhere. Everyone's telling me what great messages they had this feast. I heard the same thing from here in Big Sandy, and I'm not surprised.

We were inspired by beautiful music, and we had wonderful fellowship. Iron sharpening iron. I don't think I saw any sparks flying, but it was just good fellowship, an inspiring fellowship. I hope, like we made some new friends, some new family who didn't know real well before. All these are part of God's blessing, His Spirit pouring down upon us. You see, now we've come home. We've had those softening rains poured down upon, let's call it, the hardened ground that might have been in our hearts, in our minds. And now it's time for us to be plowing that ground.

Now it is time for us to be sowing to God's Spirit.

Where might we need God's help in bearing His good fruit of righteousness? What might we be doing to sow good seed to prepare the ground in our hearts?

I want to address that question and time remaining. And to do that, there are many places we can go to Scripture, of course, but I'm going to take us specifically to Romans chapter 12 and the inspired words of the Apostle Paul. As we read earlier, as we saw in Isaiah, that God had instructed the ancient farmers in how to plow and sow for their harvest, in Romans 12, we might understand what Paul's talking about here as God's instruction through Paul to help us understand where we might have hard ground in our hearts and how we need to be diligent to do good works, again with God's help of His Spirit, to soften our heart to produce that good fruit. We need to be sowing to the Spirit and so produce God's righteousness in our lives.

And so in Romans 12, and I'd like just for now, let's just read verse 2. Broadly speaking, we must be guided by God's Word. We must be yielding to the influence of His Spirit, and when we do that, we're going to find it easier to resist those heart-hardening influences of the world, those heart-hardening influences of our own carnal flesh. And as we resist that, we will not be conforming to the world, and we will be better transforming, becoming more like God. And that's what Paul writes here, verse 2 of Romans 12. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Sometimes people say heart-mind. That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Now, to conform means to imitate others. You follow along with the crowd. Oftentimes it can be very superficial. Sometimes it's just a matter of appearances. But to transform, on the other hand, to transform means to change to another form, to become something quite different.

It can mean to metamorphose, like a caterpillar to a butterfly. It can mean to convert, ultimately. And so in verse 2, Paul urges those in Christ to stop imitating the thoughts and ways of the world. We're to undergo a total change in our heart and mind from the inside outward. And such a transformation requires that we willingly submit ourselves, willingly submit ourselves to God's instruction of His Word and Bible and yield to the influence of that Spirit, His Holy Spirit. You see, only with God's help can we become more like He is and less like we presently are. We want to be transformed. Now, further down in the same chapter, Romans 12, verse 9 through 21, Paul lists what we could call good works. It's a long list, and Paul has lists, a number of different sorts of lists throughout his writings. Here, Paul lists good works that he urges Christ's followers to be doing and living so that they might indeed become more and more like God is.

Again, Paul's to-do list gives us that instruction from God that we found mentioned in Isaiah for those ancient farmers, instruction that guides us in sowing and growing God's righteousness in our hearts and sharing it with other people, that good fruit. So, I'm just going to read with you through these verses and make comments as we go. And what we might consider as we go through these verses starting in verse 9 and through 21, we might consider these as we read, evaluate ourselves in our own minds. We might even turn this into a sort of checklist for ourselves or this year ahead. Maybe there's something here that makes us twinge a little bit, recognizing, yeah, I need to be working on that. And maybe that could be a focus for us as we go through this and think about what we need to be, how we need to be plowing and sowing in the year ahead. Verse 9, let's start there, then. And Paul writes, Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. And so what we're quickly reminded of here is the basic way of living a sincere lifestyle in God. We must love from the heart, not just for the sake of appearances. We must be sincere in our compassion and mercy and help to one another. We must be growing in God's love, growing in that truth and sincerity. We must be striving to put aside all falseness in our lives, all falseness, all falseness. That will mean not always going along with the crowd. That'll mean not following our peers or our friends. That's really a challenge. And when we're younger, I remember.

But I also know it's not necessarily easier just because you get older. There are different types of peer pressure, even in old age, we have to be careful of. If other people's beliefs and actions are contrary to God's, we must stand firm and cling tight to the good. We must be who and what God wants us to be from the inside out. Verse 10, continuing, tells us Paul says, Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. The word affectionate means loving one another with the same sort of affection we would have for a close relative, as for a parent or a child. And just as family members show fondness for one another, or should show fondness and respect for one another, so should we show fondness and respect for one another as brethren, we who are called to be children of God. Verse 11, we're not to be lagging in diligence, we're to be fervent in spirit, we're to be serving the Lord. You know, during the feast, I'm sure we all experience many wonderful examples of individuals serving others in big ways and small. We all are had our part in that. And we need to keep serving that way. We need to keep doing that in our congregations as we can, as we are able. Prayer is one of the most important ways to serve. And there's nothing you make sometimes I hear people say, well, I can't serve. Not me. They say that to me. I try. And I remind people, but you pray. Your prayer is so powerful, so important. Don't ever underestimate your prayer and how important and helpful it is.

And so we do need to be helpful in encouraging others, as God would have us do. We should not be procrastinating, putting off what we know to do or making excuses. When we love and serve our brethren, we must remember that we're also loving and serving God. Verse 12, Paul encourages us to be rejoicing in hope, to be patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, just like I said.

We must remain firm in the ways of God, firm in praying for one another.

We must be staying close to God in our own trials and helping others through theirs.

Verse 13, we need to be distributing to the needs of the saints given to hospitality.

We practice much sharing in hospitality during the feast, and that's the fun and wonderful thing to do, isn't it? But just because the feast is over, we do not take a vacation from doing that, either. We need to keep practicing good fellowship, practicing helping in the needs of others and giving to hospitality. You know, needs often go beyond the physical things. I'm learning that more.

We may have plenty to eat. We may have a roof over our heads, all of us. But we all might have other needs, such as those spiritual needs, prayer, encouragement. We have emotional needs, someone to hear us in our troubles. We have our social needs. We need to be visited. We need to be talked with and spent time with. These are needs that we do not want to be neglecting. We need to be encouraging each other and practicing hospitality as we're able. And it's a wonderful thing if we are able to welcome people to our homes, brethren, and doing so is a wonderful way of practicing godly kindness and generosity and love. But what about those of us that are physically unable to entertain in our homes? Is hospitality only something we can do in our homes? No, it's not. The most important part of hospitality is not in opening the doors to our house, per se, but opening the doors of our heart. That's where hospitality is and comes out. The American Heritage Dictionary reveals that hospitality is an attitude or disposition of cordiality and kindness in welcoming strangers and guests without thought of reward, without thought of praise. You just do it. Though it's wonderful to entertain people in our homes, we also practice hospitality and how we greet and interact with people in our sincere friendliness and kindness. And when I come through those doors each Sabbath, I'm almost overwhelmed at times with all the hospitality that comes. And I see it to everybody. Guests, first time people come here for the first time. I also often hear from them later saying just how warm and friendly the congregation is. That speaks well of our hospitality, and we need to keep practicing that. Verse 14, Paul writes, he adds, bless those who persecute you. It's not always easy. People are not always kind to us. And he says, bless and do not curse. And I think we understand it's happening more and often to some of us here and others. We hear reports that more times people now are being mocked. And if we're not directly being persecuted for our faith in God at this time, we understand that it is likely coming. That's what Scripture says. People can think it's strange and we don't worship God the way they do. And I'm finding, as perhaps you have too, people think it's strange that we even believe in God at all. More people in this country are turning away from God, even a basic belief in God. And so to a world busy worshiping itself, our living faith in God is, to them, foolishness. But we must not be deterred by their thoughts and their opinions, their popularity polls, what they are taught, what they think is right. We must stick to God's Word. We must stick to our faith and our conviction in God. Verse 15 through 16, Paul tells us, Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another, speaking of a certain degree of humility. Do not set your mind in high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Sometimes the hard part, the hard ground in our heart, can be a matter of pride and stubbornness.

And so just as we had a wonderful time fellowshiping at the feast and joined our heart-to-heart conversation, so we need to keep that up here now that we're home and developing that. We need to share good, encouraging words with one another. We all need someone who will hear us out, commiserate with us. We all need someone at times we don't know when. We all need someone just to sit there with us and silently grieve with us. That's very important, and don't underestimate the power of just being nearby, sitting quietly, comforting. We will not receive much true hope and encouragement from the world, and that's why we need each other so desperately, so much as a family, a family of God. And that's why we must rejoice with those rejoice and weep with humility. Verse 17 through 18, Paul continues, continues, repay no one evil for evil. We see a lot of that going on in the world right now. That's not for us. He says, have regard for good things in the sight of all men, and if possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. That's the hard part sometimes. So yes, we must be staying near to God so we can better keep our emotions in check. We can better check our anger. And yes, we do get angry, but we're not supposed to let anger control us. We don't want to give in to our carnal nature to hurt others just as they hurt us. That's not God's way. That's not what Christ did. God does not want us to be sowing anger and bitterness in our hearts. That's the wrong kind of seed. That seed is related to tears, weeds. We do not want that sown in our hearts. As best we can, we must strive to get along with our neighbors and our brethren and do our part to live peaceably with others. And then finally, Paul addresses our need to not seek vengeance, verse 19 through 21, part of our to-do list here. Beloved, he says, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath. Don't let wrath rule you. For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Good is more powerful than evil any day, any time.

As angry as we may be for the injustice done to us and others, a true mark of our putting on the mind of Christ is not to hate others or to seek vengeance. We may feel it, but we have to give that to God and let God take care of that. Again, we can't allow anger and hate so prevalent in our society right now to take hold in our hearts. Remember what Paul said in Romans 12, verse 2, we are not to be conforming to the ways of the world. We are to be transformed with the help of God's Spirit and his word becoming more like Christ.

Now, there are many things here that we must be living, many things here we must be sowing, planting in our hearts and our lives, and God will help us. And that's the encouraging part. Some of these things may seem impossible for us. Some of these things we may feel we've been trying to do this all our lives and we seem not to be making much headway. That's when you need to keep pushing. That's when you need to keep hanging in there and striving to do the right thing.

It could be we're just about ready to seize that golden ring and then we quit, right? When maybe we're on the verge of overcoming something we've been trying to overcome. That's the part where we must endure to the end and keep at it. And so today, after having observed God's feast, and as we consider the time before us, this time we can describe as plowing and sowing in our hearts, we need to ask ourselves two important questions.

Are we growing? Are we growing and producing godly fruit in our lives?

Or, after having produced good fruit, has that once good fruit now become stunted and shriveled up in the hard, unplowed parts of our hearts? You see, that's very important. Are we still growing good fruit? Or have we allowed some parts of our heart to become hard through the years, through negative experiences in life?

Now, whatever our answer may be, we can change that. We can change that our ways, and we repent and seek God. And God will shower righteousness upon us and help us break up the hard ground of our hearts. And He does that with the help of His Spirit and Word. Those words are not mine. Those words are from Hosea. Please turn with me as we draw near to the conclusion. Let's turn to Hosea 10, verse 12. Now, you may remember that Hosea comes right after the book of Daniel. So let's turn there. Hosea 10, right after the book of Daniel. Hosea 10, verse 12.

And let's read Hosea's encouraging words. They have everything to do with plowing and sowing and harvesting in the future. Hosea 10, verse 12. Hosea is inspired to write, he says, so for yourselves righteousness. Reap in mercy. Break up your fallow ground. NIV writes, unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the Lord. Now, you see, is the time. For it is time to seek the Lord till He comes and reigns righteousness on you. The New Living Translation puts it this way. Plant the good seeds of righteousness and you will harvest a crop of love.

Poll up the hard ground of your hearts. For now is the time. Now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you. We need those reigns in due season right now. And so, brethren, it is time to plow, and so to be choosing to yield to God and be doing what He says with even greater diligence than before, and God will shower righteousness upon us. And so let us keep our hands to the plow. Let us keep our hands to the plow and our eyes ever looking forward that joyful and bountiful harvest in the kingdom of God.