Mt 13:1-23 Seeds & Saints(Click here for readings)
Our earth is a terrestrial planet. It is a gigantic womb that sustains and brings forth life. So many living beings live in and off the land. We call the earth Mother Nature and for good reason. But there is nothing natural about it. Planets like Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are totally natural. In fact, they are actually common. But there is nothing natural or common about the earth. It is totally uncommon within our solar system and extremely rare within our galaxy.
Dust is common. Dirt is uncommon. The seed is extremely uncommon. When the two join together, combine, and become one, the result is freakish! Trees are strange. Bees are bizarre. Roses, a bright red! All living beings are freakish. They are also dangerous, more dangerous than its hostile environment, for everything works towards life, not death, and a seed, like a plant, wants to exist. In fact, it came to be in order to exist, and the earth and sky, the sun and the moon, will work together to protect it and not endanger it.
And then came forth man. He walks the earth. He scans the heavens. He knows he is alive. He has been given dominion over all the earth. He has the power to destroy the earth and the power to save it. Although he is tiny in stature, he is mighty in power. He comes from the earth, from dust, but is endowed with a soul that comes from above, from heaven. Man may appear common on earth, but no where is he common in the universe. If man is common it is because God is extremely uncommon. The two joining together, combining, results in something freakish and beautiful: Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. He has been given dominion over all creatures, great and small, good and evil, throughout the earth. All knees bend before His name. And “all creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God. All creation is groaning in labor pains for the first fruits of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom 8:18-23) The entire world waits with great expectation for something freakish and beautiful to happen. The whole world wants to see someone amazing. And there is nothing more amazing then the conversion of a sinner.
It is the Lord who throws the seed, His word. And there is nothing common about His Word! We, the sinners, are the soil. When God's word is combined with our soul the result is stunning! Christians are uncommon! Saints are a rarity! They are as unnatural as flying bees! They defy the laws of nature and the force of gravity and do the impossible.
Only the Lord has words of eternal life. He alone, with his word, can till the soul of a man, turn it upside down, throw it against the weight of the world and make what was dead come to life. He alone can drive us into the depths of the earth and turn it into glory. Where ever He is and regardless of the terrain, He will throw the seed of the Holy Spirit and wait to see if it takes root. We are all good. Nothing and no one can take that away. We all have what it takes to be holy ground. There is nothing missing for life. So why does it not happen more often?
“You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them.”
Sin hardens the soul. It has a way of making us deaf and dumb, blind and cold-hearted. It doesn’t have to be this way! From our inner most being, from the depth of our soul, we know that it doesn’t have to be this way. I know that one cry for love, one tear with faith, can moisten the ground, make it soft, and allow His seed to fall deep within my soul. That’s all it takes for “nature”. That’s all it took for the supernatural. That’s all it should take for me.
Heavenly Father, we beg you for the deep seated grace of humility, so that your word may take root within our hearts and bear fruit that endures forever. We ask this through your Son or Lord who lives and reigns forever in you. Amen.
