As I look across the lawns of my neighborhood you can’t but help to notice the occasional dandelion sprouting up.  As a flower they freely decorate plush green landscapes, but their momentary beauty hides a more sinister plot.  The manifesto for the dandelion empire is quite simple.  This weed’s goal is to take over the world, if not my lawn.  I have to actively weed and tend to my lawn to make sure that their vile seeds don’t take over.   The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia,

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

There’s no denying the proof.  If you allow the dandelions of the sinful nature to bloom freely in the lawn of your life, you will have a very sad landscape in the end.  In the natural world weeds push out and choke the healthy grass and foliage and make room for other weeds to enter in.  In the same way the seeds we plant to satisfy our own selfish nature choke out opportunities for the life and love of God to blossom. 

You have to vigilant as well.  It’s a constant challenge to keep my natural lawn in check with the mowing, and fertilizing and edging that has to be done.  It’s too easy to get weary and tired and let the weeds take over.  On the other hand there’s the pride of having a lawn well kept.  In our lives as well there’s the satisfaction of leading a life that is going to bring about a lasting harvest. 

Let me challenge you to inspect the lawn of your life.  What kind of seed is being sown? Is it time to do some weeding?  There is an old saying that says, What you cultivate (fertilize) will grow.  Take time to cultivate the seeds of God’s Spirit and I guarantee that you’ll be satisfied with the results.