 Have you ever wondered why life began in a garden? Everything that God does is full of life and growth. A garden is the perfect picture for God to show us the blessing of fruitfulness He desires for us. Even though our bodies stop growing and gradually begin to wear out, our inner being is renewed every single day (2 Corinthians 4:16). As pastors and leaders caring for others, we often forget to tend the soil of our own heart. Jesus taught us, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) And Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” We must tend to our own heart soil to keep it fertile and fruitful for feeding others in the Kingdom.
 John 8:47 (NKJV): “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
It is fascinating to study Jesus’ words here. He gives a condition for those who are of God. If we are of God, it is demonstrated in our lives by our hearing of His words. One would expect Him to follow that with “therefore you are not of God because you do not hear His words.” Instead, He says it the other way around, “therefore you do not hear because you are not of God.”  In this life, all of our actions are recorded. Like witnesses in the courtroom, our lives, our works, and our motives are being examined and cross-examined by life’s circumstances, which are governed and permitted by Heaven’s wisdom and divine government. Our actions in all of these circumstances emit precise testimonies of our deeds, which testify to our heart condition and our allegiance or the lack thereof, toward God and His monarchy. Like a court stenographer, everything is being recorded. In the days of judgement after this age, the stenographers’ books will be opened so that a verdict can be issued for all people, small and great, believing and unbelieving. (Rev. 20:11-15, 2 Cor. 5:9-11, Rev. 22:12-15, I Thes. 2:19-20)
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