What did that seed say?

This summer I was a group leader for the 2nd graders at our church's Vacation Bible School. The theme was about Exploring the Nature of God as we walked through the rainforest. We talked about God sightings… how we see God in the world around us. These Gods sightings are so intriguing as a regenerative farmer. My whole livelihood comes from plants, animals, soil, water, and light, and I just had to share with you what message I hear the plants say all day as I farm along. We did some experiments in our group time where I had the kids plant some seeds and we watched them germinate over 3 days. I wanted to put the words to what we observed to tell you what God says through the plants. Listen to this verse in the Bible.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world...” Psalms 19:1-4

Sounds to me like this verse says that God’s creation speaks about God! They don’t use English, but when you describe with words what it does, you start speaking God’s word written right in the Bible!

Just look at our example of germinating seeds. We took this tiny thing that looks like a rock and buried it in the dirt… never to be seen in that form again. If that seed wants to truly live, it must be born again. We buried that seed in the ground and trust that God will raise it to new life. Then from 3 days to 3 weeks, we see a new creation coming busting out of that grave and now it sinks its roots deep in the earth feeding on minerals breaking down from the previous generation of decomposing plants to build its life on. Its sole source of energy comes from light that gives it the ability to absorb nutrients from the earth. It grows and matures and then reproduces some 30, some 60, some 100 or even more times what seeds were originally sown. The message to all those new seeds that just came into existence is that you must be born again. The way you came into this world is insignificant. Your life will be nothing but darkness if you never let God transform you with His light. You have this huge potential God designed in you, but in order to live that life, you must die to the way you came into this world and trust that God will transform you into the creation He designed you to be… and you will bear much fruit if you sink your roots deep into the truth of the lives lived before you to know how you should or shouldn’t build yours.

That’s what the seeds say when you put words to their actions. Now listen to what the Bible says… the collection of history of the previous generation’s lives that we should use to learn how to build our life.

“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

The Bible is not describing a physical death for people, but spiritual death and rebirth. Just listen to what Peter said to the people who just killed Jesus. He told them who Jesus was, all the miraculous signs he did, how they crucified Him, but He rose again on the 3rd day, appeared to over 500 people, then ascended into heaven… How Jesus truly was the Son of God.

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:37-41

Isn’t that awesome! This is what it means to be born again! You must repent of your sins and surrender your entire being to Jesus… the Creator of the Entire Universe… and let Him turn you into the person He designed you to be. Then follow through with baptism… that symbol of what happened to you… death of the old life and rebirth into the true life… exactly what seeds do.

All the plants tell you this. Isn’t it crazy that all of your food comes from plants. All of your clothes is derived from plants, and all of your shelter comes from plants and dirt. Even if it is plastic that came from petroleum… that petroleum was once plants or animals (that had to eat the plants to live) that got covered by dirt and turned into petroleum. All of life on earth is made possible by plants. Your very precious American dollars, our money, is nothing but cotton and flax… plants. They all tell you that you must be born again! You’ll never look at nature the same way again once you put words to its actions and then read the very themes in the Bible.

Be born again just like the plants, then share with others what you just heard those plants say… You must be born again!