n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 6
might be fruitful and multiply in
heaven? In one sense not very much
at all. We simply need those small little
seeds planted in our lives. The more
that are planted here the more that will
grow to fruition in the next world. For
nothing, absolutely nothing, is ever
lost. Many of the things that we have
started here may take a long time to
develop, but they remain with us and
are seeds that will bear fruit forever.
So what does this mean? For one
thing it means that we should be careful in how we evaluate our worth, our
spiritual state. Yes, we should see some harvest, some good fruit, in this world.
But we should also recognize that most of the good with us is like a seed, the
very small mustard seeds that are planted and are dormant. They are there
merely awaiting a springtime in the spiritual w orld.
We should also look at our lives and all that we do here not as an end in
itself but as a process of planting seeds that can then multiply. The Lord quoted
an old saying that, “One sows and another reaps.” (John 4:37) Often our role
is to sow the seeds that will be reaped in the next world. In a real sense that’s
what we are doing with the raising of our children. We are not controlling
their destiny. We are not forcing them to be this or that. We are planting seeds
in their lives that will bear fruit throughout their adult lives and in the other
world forever.
Even in older age, seeds are being planted all the time – seeds that will
bear fruit eternally. Every truth we learn and every good intention or action we
have are seeds in our lives that will bear fruit forever. The spiritual things we
have, and those we give to others, are eternal seeds. Regardless of appearances,
not the least seed is ever lost or pointless.
So while we at times may be discouraged by an apparent lack of success or
harvest, we should recognize that while our desire to be fruitful and multiply
can be temporarily frustrated or lie dormant, where there is good it cannot be
stopped.
The Lord assures us that everything good multiplies forever. Nothing
good is ever useless or lost. Every little seed planted in our lives or the lives of
those around us, even though it appears to be the smallest, will lead to reaping
good fruit that multiplies forever. This is the promise of the Lord. This is the
assurance that we will be fruitful and multiply.
Amen.
We should also look at
our lives and all that we
do here not as an end
in itself but as a process
of planting seeds that
can then multiply.
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