“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat
fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth
forth much fruit. He that loveth his
life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it
unto life eternal.” –John 12:24-25
All
around us, we see resurrection and life.
The natural world testifies of the spiritual. All of creation declares the glory of
God. As human beings, we are born into
this world with a sinful nature inside of us.
A nature that wants to sin against God, a nature that says “It’s all
about me.” A “me” first mentality. We must die to that; lose “our” life and let
Christ live within.
The
timing of Easter emphasizes the message of Easter. As the grip of winter begins to ease, that
which was dead rouses to bloom and blossom with new life. Here in south, the azalea bushes that were
once drab and dark are now green and vibrate with colors of white, pink, and purple. The dogwood trees that were nothing but a
trunk and branches are now flush with beautiful white blossoms. The wheat plant is no different. It germinates, grows, eventually reaching a
point of maturity. At maturity, it is
ready for harvest, for seed or edible use.
If the wheat kernel remains on the stalk, it is good for nothing. It was built for death, and it was meant for
resurrection unto life. The original
state if the corn (or kernel) of wheat is not the final state of it. The total purpose of the corn of wheat is to
bring forth more fruit. To do so, it
must first die off the stalk, and find soil.
If the corn of wheat reaches maturity and remains on the stalk, it will
be good for nothing. Effectively, “dying
on the vine” and it will never reach the soil where it can germinate and
produce fruit. It will abide alone. Like
the corn of wheat, if we grow up with carnality inside, and go our own way, do
our own thing, and love our own life, we will lose it. We will die on the vine and produce no fruit;
because the “wages of sin is death.” It is a terrible thing to be alone. The devil will keep you so wrapped up in sin,
that there is an emptiness in your heart.
A void that cannot be filled. If
you love this life more than Jesus, you will lose your life. Granted, you may be breathing, and existing, though
you are dead inside, and bound for a sinner’s hell. However, if you surrender all, Christ will
fill your heart with His Holy Spirit and “if
the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that
raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his
Spirit that dwelleth in you.” That
sin nature will die, and you will be in perfect fellowship with the
Father. You will be in the right soil,
and He will led your life so that you grow up in righteousness and bear good
fruit.
Sunday
is Easter Sunday, The Sunday when he rose from the grave with all power, stayed
forty days in his glorified body, ascended into heaven, and on the fiftieth day
he sent the Holy Ghost down to dwell in the hearts of those waiting in the upper
room. Jesus Christ came into this world
as the “lamb without blemish and without
spot.” He “did no sin nor was guile found in his mouth”. He became the perfect sacrifice for us and
left an example to us, of death and resurrection to life. He brought victory over sin, and because he
brought victory, we can follow his example, die to “me”, and live “all for
Thee.” There has to be a death so there
can be a resurrection, there must be a resurrection for there to be
victory. This Sunday, find a place to
worship that preaches and teaches the resurrection unto life. That preaches and teaches that every person,
can have victory over sin, through the power of Jesus living within.
