Noah’s first work was to preach righteousness, repentance, and to build an ark. It was heartwork for Noah. Noah and God’s people rode their ark through the water to safety. Abraham’s first work was to preach righteousness, repentance, and to build altars. It was heartwork for Abraham. Moses’ very first work was to ride his tiny ark through the “water” to safety. Moses knew his most important work - to lead out God’s people. But he “got the cart ahead of the horse” when he killed the Egyptian without waiting on God! It was heartwork for Moses. Moses and God’s people built another ark, this one in the desert. Moses’ work then was to preach righteousness and forgiveness. Later, Moses, with God’s people, followed their ark through the “water” to safety. On dry land!

Elijah and John the Baptist both taught repentance, forgiveness, and obedience. We have seen that true repentance is represented as soil preparation.

“All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heartwork with Christ. And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.”2

Do we have a message to preach? Could it be heart work? Could it be soil (heart) preparation? Could it be righteousness and repentance?

Topics such as the Elijah message, the sealing message, the sanctuary message, obedience, righteousness by faith, the atoning sacrifice, unity, Christian character development, the true science of education, consecration, abiding in Christ, medical missionary work, colporteur evangelism, all have one thing in common:

Let us set this in cement. It was written in stone by the finger of God!

“It was heartwork with Christ. . . . Sin will become hateful to us.”

“It is heartwork that the Lord requires, good works springing from a heart filled with love.”3

“There are many who have not a correct knowledge of what constitutes a Christian character. . . . If they were thoroughly converted they would not bear briers and thorns, but rich clusters of the precious fruits of the Spirit - ‘love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance’ (Galatians 5:22, 23). The great danger is in neglecting a heartwork. . . . They are unacquainted with the grace of Christ, and He is not abiding in the heart by living faith.”4

As we pour into God’s “cement mixer” the ingredients of our time, talents, and our thoughts and feelings combined, and wait upon the Lord, we see with astonishment that what comes out is a golden chain of love that encircles the world for which He died.

“God’s instrumentalities should seek to follow in the footsteps of the divine Healer. . . . ’Ye are not your own? for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s’ (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). Yes, we are God’s property, and the path of obedience to nature’s laws is the direct path to heaven. He who is converted from errors in eating, drinking, and dressing is being prepared to hear and receive the truth into a good and willing heart. Many, by practicing the laws of nature and by receiving the renovating grace of God into the soul, obtain a new lease of physical and spiritual life. ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 9:10).”5

Let wisdom’s voice be heard, for “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:17). “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come” (Revelation 14:7).

This study is not about the first angel’s message, but of necessity, it is also included. This study is not about health reform, but of necessity, it too is included.

Dear reader, do you see how these subjects flow together? If you have the talent for medical missionary work, then that is your pioneer work. If my talent lies in the direction of agriculture, then that is my very first work. If another has the talent to help us see the importance of Christian character development, then that is the most important work for that individual. All for the glory of God. It is heartwork that the Lord requires. Without heartwork all else is futile. Let us all seek the Lord with all our heart. “Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil” (Joel 2:13).

Jesus’ first parable was about soil preparation. Soil preparation means heartwork. Heartwork involves our eternal destiny. Your eternal destiny involves your choice. This is what is encompassed in Jesus’ first parable.

“I have been instructed that the greatest work that we can do in this life is to prepare ourselves and to help others to prepare for the future immortal life.”6

We need - desperately need - to recognize what Jesus is trying to teach us by the parable of the sower. No matter what pathway we are on, if it doesn’t lead us to a correct preparation of heart and soul for heaven, we’re on the wrong track. If whatever path you are on leads you or someone else to Christ, that is the path of soil preparation.

Eternal destiny equals heartwork. It involves our choice.