From the fields of the sower to the Ministry of Christ the little red truck found it’s destiny from it’s first mile to it’s last mile.
It was an exciting day when the little red truck arrived on the family farm. The excited farmer made the corner from the highway and carefully made the turn unto the driveway. He was home. The little red chevy pickup was so excited all it could say was, “Beep, Beep, Beep!” The farmer’s wife dressed wearing her kitchen apron powdered with flour was holding the baby on her hip. She came running from the house before the little red truck could stop. Smiles beamed from all their faces as they were thrilled to meet the new addition to their family. Johnny, came running from the Barn, Susan looked up as she was feeding the chickens, as soon as they heard the “Beep, Beep, Beep” it was though the new little red truck was beckoning them to new adventures that awaited them on the Farm.
Even the animals got excited, The cows raised their heads from grazing and gently Mooed as given their approval. The chickens stopped scratching as their heads raised to attention. The pigs squealed, the ducks quacked, the geese waddled in one group to see what was causing all the commotion. As the farmer arrived at the house, he said, “Well, what do think of this new little red truck”? The dogs and the cats were already checking out the tires. The farmer’s wife still holding their baby welcomed her husband home with a kiss as a little tear flowed down her cheek. She clearly saw the proud look on the face of her husband and the shiny little red truck seemed to beam a glow on each of the faces of the children. Life was not always easy on the farm. There are always so many unknowns in farming. Always expenses that seemed to come up that threatened from time to time. She knew full well that a new truck was needed to assist her husband with all his hard work day in and day out as he tirelessly provided for his family working the farm to it’s highest potential. Today, a dream had come true. They had saved and worked hard as a family so the farm could have a new pickup. The children all wanted a ride immediately and Dad was glad to accommodate them all. Their mother stayed behind knowing the truck was already full. There would be countless rides together with her husband through the years ahead. She knew that she would also be driving that truck herself. It became a part of their happy family for many years. The little red truck never forgot to say, “Beep, Beep, Beep”. In fact it always spoke up just at the right time! At times it was a warning, at times it was the voice of love, at times it was long and drawn out as it echoed throughout the farm yard. At time is was quick, at times it called the cattle, at times it called the children, “It is time to go!” Sometimes it was like the old farm Bell that stood just outside the front porch of the farmhouse near the kitchen. Instead of calling every one to the bountiful table to eat it resonated , “Goodbye, be home soon!”
At last, the little red truck that says, “Beep, Beep, Beep” found it’s destiny on a working family farm. It carried the seed, the bales of hay to feed the livestock, the parts to fix other farm implements, it took the kids to school, and it carried the groceries. It was always happy to go to a farm auction and the farmer filled the bed with items for the family or for the farm. It was used everyday in countless ways.
Jesus’ parable about the Sower clearly tells the story of a farmer who sows seed and does so indiscriminately. Some seed falls on the path with no soil, some on rocky ground with little soil, some on thorny soil, and some on good soil. The first three examples Jesus teaches that the seed fails to produce a crop. When the seed falls on good soil it grows, yielding thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold. (Matt. 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15).
Each planting season the little red truck faithfully did it’s part in helping the farmer. The bags of seed were stacked in the shed awaiting the exact time for planting. When the time arrived, “Beep, Beep, Beep”, as the farmer backed up to the shed to load the bags of seed. The farmer lifted each bag carefully and loaded it into the little red truck. Rarely, a bag would slightly tear and a small portion of seed would fall upon the bed of the truck. As the truck made it’s way to the field Jesus’ parable was revealed every planting season. Some seed fell upon the cement floor in the shed. Some fell on the pathway leading to the field where the tractor and planter were waiting. Some fell where the pathway was rocky and the little red truck bounced trying to reach it’s destination. When they arrived at the gate of the prepared field and made the slight turn some fell by the thorns that grew by the gate. None of those seeds that fell would grow too maturity. The little red truck pulled up next to the planter that was already hitched to the tractor. The farmer carefully placed all the seed into the implement holders and started the tractor. All the seed fell on good soil. Though the months that followed the little red truck was always there checking the fields, watching the corn and soybeans grow. What victory in the fall when every one was blessed by a bountiful crop. Even the little red truck said at the end of every harvest season, “Beep, Beep, Beep!”
As many years rolled by the little red truck began to fade. It seemed to need more and more repairs. The body was rusty and it was just wearing out. I was glad to be making a pastoral call once again at the home of this farm family. I was always excited to do so. The family had just began to attend church and the children were taking piano lessons from my wife at our home. We soon had become friends. When I got ready to leave their home the farmer asked me, “Preacher do you think you would like to buy my old red truck? It still runs, but I need to sell it.”
After talking it over with my wife, I called the farmer the following day and we agreed on a price. I was going to come by and pick up the truck the following day. I was so excited it seemed that i could not even sleep. I never had a truck of my own before. All I could see were lots of possibilities in my thoughts but never once did I think of what God was going to do with the little red truck that said,”Beep, Beep, Beep!”in my ministry.
When I paid the farmer the little red truck pulled out of his driveway and said, “Beep, Beep, Beep.” in a mournful tone. It was good-bye to the farm he loved. When I arrived home in town and pulled into my drive in the subdivision, the horn sounded again, 3 times. This time it was my wife that came to the door and it was my children that gathered around the truck and wanted a ride. We rolled the windows down and went on our first family ride in the old rusty truck. We were happy! The truck was now a city truck and the days of working on the farm were days of the past. A new kind of work was to begin that was very much like the work the little red truck already knew.
My children and I washed and clean the truck inside and out. We even waxed the faded paint and put a new seat cover on the interior. We played a old circus music tape while we washed and played in the water together. It seemed that we squirted each other with the hose more than we did on the truck. The children still remember riding in the old truck with that circus music playing loudly. I guess I was crazy and knew it would not last but I even put vinyl shelving paper over the parts of the body of the truck that were so rusty. It really looked good. The wooden design brought a lot of laughs and smiles as it covered a multitude of rust and body damage.
The truck became such an intregal part of my ministry. I used the little red truck extensively. It faithfully hauled materials and tools to the construction site where we were building a new church building. Countless trips were made all doing the work of Christ. God had blessed the church where we were serving and the church was really growing quite fast. On one occasion when the building was just finished, two gentleman from the church rode along with me to Bellevue, Nebraska to pick up some barely used office furniture. While on the Interstate the little red truck started overheating. We finally were able to find a garage and had a new thermostat put on and we were on our way.
The little red truck was truly my assistant. Together we planted seeds all over Buffalo County. On the farms and in the city the precious seed was always in the truck. There were people to see, calls to make, responses to crises situations assigned by the Sheriff’s Department. There were Youth group outings, church picnics, and community events where the seed was planted. Sometimes it fell by the wayside where there was no soil, sometimes on rocky paths were there was barely any soil, sometimes the soil was filled with so many thorns that the seeds could not grow. Always where there was good soil the seed, the Word of God, flourished. Together we planted, the Church watered, and God gave the increase. An old farm truck that reached it’s true destiny in helping people find a living relationship with Christ. The amazing miracle is that the sound never changed. Being used by God to carry the message we are all vessels in His hand.
And the little red truck said, “Beep, Beep, Beep” until it could go no more.
Oh, if only we could be as consistent in sowing the seeds for a lifetime awaiting for the final harvest!
Paul D. Sisson
TREASURES FOR THE HEART 