Have you ever bought a bag of potting soil? It contains beautiful, dark, moisture rich soil that we use to plant our flowers in cute little containers for the front porch and/or to enrich the existing soil in our yard. Well, have you ever noticed those little white balls in the soil? They look like styrofoam, but it’s actually perlite. Hmmm? What in the world is that, you ask? Well, it’s actually a naturally occurring volcanic glass. When processed for use in potting soil, perlite is heated to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, so that it puffs like popcorn. When it puffs up, it expands to several times its original volume. The result is a white, lightweight material that modifies soil structure. (According to google)
Here’s the function of it: (I promise I’m going somewhere with this)
Perlite prevents potting soil from being too dense, which in turn prevents it from retaining too much moisture and not enough oxygen. Perlite does not retain water. Each particle is comprised of air cells that do not absorb moisture. Instead they hold moisture around the outside, in tiny cavities. This makes the water available to plant roots for a period of time. Perlite used in potting soil keeps the soil loose, and this improves aeration by preventing compaction. Perlite allows oxygen to reach roots as they develop.
Isn’t perlite like the Holy Spirit for good ground? The Holy Spirit allows us to develop roots in the Word and BE good ground. He lives within the follower of Christ and makes himself available to help absorb everything from the Word of God. He prevents us from being dense…ignorant…by reminding us of when we have a heart that is tuned to God, we can be fruitful. Without the Holy Spirit within us, we can become rigid and have a heart compacted with the weight of this world, but through Him we are able to allow the seeds of the Word to penetrate our soil and produce a harvest of 30, 60 and 100 fold!
I want a heart that is constantly being aerated with the Holy Spirit…listening and breathing in the spiritual oxygen needed to reach into the depths of my being and cause a bountiful harvest. I want to welcome God’s Word into my heart, even on the times when it causes a few leaves to die, I know it is for pruning to make me more like Jesus! I’m not going to look at those little white balls in my potting soil quite the same anymore…I am going to allow them to serve as a reminder to always have a heart open to hearing and digesting the Word for myself and planting seed from my lips to those around me! That’s a harvest waiting to happen, friend!