North Carolina Farmer’s Market
Have you purchased a pumpkin this fall? They seem to come in all shapes and sizes and come with a variety of price tags too.
I like to create a colorful display of pumpkins and gourds on my front porch, but it can become costly. I’ve started buying my unique colored and shaped pumpkins and gourds at the Farmer’s Market and then stopping by Walmart for my traditional orange, round pumpkin, because I can get it there for $4. I’m trying to be a good steward of what God gives me.
A couple of weeks ago I was in North Carolina visiting my parents and we went to the Piedmont Triad Farmer’s Market. I used to live about fifteen minutes from there, prior to moving to Georgia. I would shop for vegetables almost daily. It was fabulous. I knew I had some of the freshest, local produce I could find. It was a treat talking to the old farmers, learning from their wealth of knowledge. They’re true hardworking, salt-of-the-earth kind of people.
One ladies selling pumpkins and gourds had beautiful looking produce. Her items stood out above the rest. They had a shine to them that made them almost look like she had sprayed them with shellac. When I asked her about them, her response was priceless. (I’ll write it phonetically so you get the full effect.}
No ma’am. I just warshed them in a Clorax warsh. You see everthing that’s growd has bacteria on it, everthing. If you warsh it in a Clorax warsh then it kills the bacteria. Then it’ll last for up to six months before it starts to rot. If’n you want to set these here punkins or gourds out, I’ve already warshed ’em so you be fine.”
She was adorable. Needless to say, I bought my gourds and pumpkins from her. I will also wash my Walmart pumpkin in a Clorax wash so it will last throughout the fall season on my front porch without rotting.
Driving home as her words tumbled over in my mind, scripture verses seemed to pepper their way into her message.
Romans 3:23 reminds us we’re like everything that grows.
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
We all carry sin and if it goes unchecked it will start to destroy us. But there is something we can wash with that will cleanse us from our sin. It isn’t water, but you know what it is. You probably sang the hymn in church that tells you…
What can wash away our sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
David writes it beautifully in Psalm 51:1-12 when he cries out to the Lord to cleanse him of his sin:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
My sweet, little, farmer friend had it right. We’re all born with sin and we’ll continue to have it unless it’s washed away.
If you need cleansing, whether you’re covered in it or you’ve been cleansed before and have picked up some parasites along your journey, Jesus is ready, able, and willing to wash away all that keeps you from life eternal. All you have to do is ask.
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