Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it.
Isaiah 45:8 (ESV)
Series Focus: “Let There Be Light”
Last week, my daughter and I purchased seeds for spring planting. Mesmerized by the variety available, we scanned the colorful pictures displayed on each packet. Flowers, herbs, vegetables… Each envelope contained a harvest destined to sprout when placed in the proper conditions of soil, sunlight, and water. With our projected bounty in seed-form, we headed home to plant.
Our parsley seeds will produce parsley. The lavender seeds, lavender. Tomato seeds, tomatoes. Each seed produces according to its kind, just as God proclaimed in the Garden at Creation. But, did you know there’s a scripture that metaphorically refers to the light of God as seed? Psalm 97:11-12 NASB says:
Light is sown like seed for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Be joyful in the Lord, you righteous ones, and praise the mention of His holy name.
It’s challenging to think of light as seed, isn’t it? Can you picture little light seeds being planted in soil and growing more light? It doesn’t even seem to make sense…until we dig a bit deeper into the scriptures.
God uses metaphors and stories to help bring understanding of scriptural truths. We see this clearly through the ministry of Jesus and His use of parables. In fact, He, Himself, is identified as the Bread of life (John 6:48); the Light of the world (John 9:5); the True Vine (John 15:1); even the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15).
Picture this: God sent His Son, His best Seed, the Light of the world, to be planted in the earth to bring forth a harvest for the Kingdom of God. In so doing, light-seeds are implanted in the hearts of those who believe upon Jesus as the Son of God—the True Vine. The believers sprout in the sureness of salvation that can only develop from the original pure and holy Seed. As His crop grows and thrives, joy and praise abound to Him from His righteous harvest.
God established His Kingdom on the principles of seedtime and harvest—sowing and reaping. We see this from Genesis to Revelation. Our finite minds often gravitate to the literal picture of a seed being planted, sprouting, budding, and blooming. But God uses this process to show us His glorious work of salvation through Jesus in the dirt of our very lives. Isaiah foretold of this great mystery. Jesus confirmed it throughout the Gospels. The Epistles remind us over and over again. Paul, in Galatians 3:16 (NASB), wrote:
Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his Seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as one would in referring to many, but rather as in referring to one, “And to your Seed,” that is, Christ.
Jesus, the Light of the world and God’s best Seed, was sown in the earth and implanted within our hearts so that we would grow in His light and the glorious salvation He has provided. We, sisters, are His harvest of righteousness! We have been destined to sprout—beautifully, wonderfully, in His image, with gladness and joyfulness of heart! You, my friend, are an envelope—a seed packet—full of the promise of God. Let His light grow within you and shine brilliantly through you.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Genesis 1:11-13, 3:15, 8:22; Isaiah 45:5-8; 53; Psalm 97:11-12; John 6:48, 9:5, 15:1; Romans 4; Galatians 3:16; James 1:21, 3:17-18; Revelation 14:14-18
