My dear friends
Some might me surprised to hear that I am a fan of
agricultural programmes on Radio Khwezi. Our frequent guests, Lindinkosi Mchunu from the
well-known seed company, Pannar, and advisors from the provincial Department of
Agriculture have got me right on board.
The thing that excites me about the programmes are the
practical spiritual lessons that are found in them.
Our listeners are told repeatedly about the importance of
planning ahead if you want to be a successful farmer. Just that challenges me. How on
earth do we hope to lead effective spiritual lives if we go about it in a sloppy
laissez-faire fashion?
Testing the soil is essential for knowing what further
requirements will be. That is how a farmer determines what kind of fertilizer is best
suited for the soil. Something to ponder for us preachers.
How do we know what the hearts before us need even before we
start planting the seed of God's Word. The truth is that only God knows the state and the
need of every heart. That is why those who would reach hearts must walk in close
fellowship with the Lord.
Soil preparation is another important phase in the process.
We see farmers removing stones, even rocks, stumps, breaking hard patches and levelling
the ground.
Living in a country where it is claimed that about 80% of
the population identify themselves with Christianity, where the beautiful sight of people
streaming into churches is common, I ask myself earnest questions. Why then is South
Africa amongst world leaders in serious crimes like murder, rape, drug smuggling, AIDS
instances etc? Could this be part of the answer, that worshippers go into churches on
Sundays with unprepared hearts, rolling in with them stones, stumps and boulders that
never get dealt with?
The choice of seed is a critical factor. Pannar
representatives tell us that every grain of seed they sell is guaranteed to germinate.
Despite Pannar's justified good reputation experience tells us that the human error factor
cannot be totally excluded. The quality of the seed of God's Word is out of this world.
When it gets planted in good soil we are assured of a bumper crop.
We are also told that every crop has natural enemies;
specific weeds and insects. Pannar partners with Bayer, a firm that specialises in
researching and manufacturing weedicides and insecticides. Experts will even explain to
you which chemicals are to be used before, during or after planting for the best results.
By the way, my family on both sides come from a farming
background. My maternal grandfather, Sifesakhe Jila's fields and livestock in the
Ekhamanzi valley were the envy of his neighbours. When the Sibisis arrived at Chibini from
the top class Fawn Leas farming area in the early 50s they brought with them relatively
advanced farming equipment and methods.
One of the enduring pictures of my paternal grandfather,
Gakanye Sibisi, is that of him overseeing workers on the field. He disapproved of workers
leaning on their hoes and chatting instead of rooting out weeds. He would shout,
"Goba ndwani, zonk' izindwani ziyagoba." In plain terms that meant "Bow and
get down to work."
The Lord told of the seed that is eaten by the birds of the
air even before it germinates, of the enemy that used the cover of darkness to plant weeds
where good seed had been sown and the thorns that choked up the planted crop. These are
real life situations, threats to the potential harvest in our Master's field.
The focused research in combating specific threats to
specific crops reminds me of the Lord'direct response to every temptation by the devil. He
did the same to His detractors to the very end. That confirms to us that if we stay on His
side we shall find ways to deal with each and every threat to our spiritual lives.
Some farmers are in a fortunate position of being able to
irrigate their crops. On a visit to some farms I was fascinated to see how fine-tuned some
irrigation systems were. Computer programmes regulated every mililitre in every square
milimetre of the field.
If Christrians are serious about their spiritual growth
should they not carefully note what nourishes or starves their soul? That should inform
their decisions on where to spend their time and energy.
It is sobering to think that the most critical factor in the
agricultural industry, the weather, is beyond human control. Farmers know what the most
ideal conditions are for the different phases of crop development but things do not always
work that way. The same farmer that looked up and smiled as he saw rain-clouds gathering
last week today wishes the clouds would disperse for him to harvest comfortably.
As simplistic as it might sound to some, I believe that
farmers should be believers. They should be in constant communication with the Lord in the
way expressed in the performance by Jim Reeves, "The farmer and the Lord."
Harvest time must be one of the most exciting periods for a
farmer.
In the late 70s we met a former missionary from Johannesburg
to whom we gave the name "Phakhwangula". That came from a song he taught us in
the language of the people he had served somewhere in Africa. In fact it was the beautiful
hymn "Bringing in the sheaves". These days I listened to an excellent
performance of the song by a famous USA choir. The arrangement captured my imagination; it
was as if I could see groups from different nations coming to present their sheaves before
the Lord of the harvest.
"Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in
the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves"
Some of my farmer friends have reached the high standard of
exporting their products to overseas countries. The expertise involved in this area is
mind-boggling. One example is the system that they implement that traces products from the
field to its transportation by road, sea or air right to the destination across the many
waters. Maintaining the freshness over thousands of kilometres is a science on its own.
Our finite minds will never understand the mystery of how
believers are transported from this earth to the Celestial City but our gracious Lord
outlines clearly in His Word how we can prepare for the ultimate journey. In essence,
making sure that we reach our eternal home should be our primary goal in life.
Whereas a farmer's goal to produce and export products of
the highest quality is admirable Paul's zeal to present Christ with precious pure souls is
eternally more noble.
"I am jealous for you with a godly
jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure
virgin to him. (2 Corinthians 11:2)
Have a blessed week!
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
