“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. (John 12:24-25).
One of the interesting things about seeds is that they are all different… and unique. Different because there are many types of seeds: fruit seeds, vegetable seeds, grass seeds and many more. Unique because even though they belong to the same type, each plant produced will differ slightly to the next – amazing! It is in this simple nature that we can truly start to appreciate the power of God.
Each seed is basically made up of two parts: the inner seed and the outer casing.
The inner seed contains the perfect recipe for duplication and multiplication. Gods design declares that it should multiply uniquely according to what type of seed it is. An apricot pip will not produce a pineapple tree any more than a peach pip will grow into a grapevine; such is Gods great design.
The seeds will only germinate when the conditions around them are correct. Too much acid in the soil, not enough moisture or slight variances in temperature and the seed will not be able to begin its transformation. However, when conditions are correct, the seed begins its journey into change and becomes part of ensuring continuity of their type. Can you try to image the complexity of DNA contained in each seed in order for it to sense the exterior conditions so that growth can begin? What about all the parts of the future plant, each leaf, the stem, all the branches, the root system that will be used to sustain growth? It really is a fantastic wonder.
The outer casing has the important task of keeping the inner ‘blue print’ safe until conditions are right for action. Once the germination process signal is ‘go’, the outer casing has fulfilled its purpose and begins to degenerate. If the outside casing does not decompose or crack open, then the inner seed cannot begin to grow. In time, the seed will flourish into a large tree or bush, capable of producing many seeds just like itself.
Jesus, in the parable of the grain of wheat, compares our lives to the seed. As God breathed ‘the breath of life’ into mankind (Gen.2:7), our inner man was born. It is in our inner man that we communicate with God and have HIS DNA present in us. God’s desire is for us to be used by Him as instruments to further HIS Kingdom. As with the seed, the inner man contains the perfect recipe for duplication and multiplication of God’s children.
The outer casing in our life, is likened to our ‘old selves’. In other words, the sinful nature (engine), that mankind inherited from Adam (Gen.5:3). Some may live a long time using ‘the old self’ to protect the inner man with it’s Godly DNA.
However, when conditions are right, God grants salvation and the journey of sanctification begins (becoming mature, as our heavenly Father is mature). God’s Spirit is born within our inner man and the fruit of His Spirit is felt in our lives (peace, patience, kindness etc.). As we are able to share the amazing testimony of how this happened to us, the duplication and multiplication of the Lords children is assured.
As with the seed, if our ‘old self’ does not decompose or crack open, then God’s Spirit flowing out of us is hindered. Every time we feel the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit within us, our ‘old self’ will reason and justify, resulting in a tainted or watered down obedience to God.
Daily, we need to ask God to help us put down the old self. The measure to which His Spirit flows through us, is the measure to which our old self has decayed. Paul said “..it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal.2:20).
Let us pray that our outer casing will begin to erode today and the character of God will flow out from us unhindered. May our Lord be fully witnessed in and through us, as we are used by Him to bring others to a knowledge of Him. This will ensure the continued growth of the body of Christ, until He comes in Glory, to collect His Bride…. Hallelujah!
From: “…time with the Master…”