Miracles of Sowing

Do you give much thought to the process of being resurrected back to life?

Or do you prefer to simply rely on the veracity of God’s promises?  After all, why would you need to know all the details?   Maybe you don’t, but the apostle Paul seemed to think that an inquiring mind was justified:

“But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?’”  [1Cor. 15:35, from his letter to the church of God which (was) at Corinth]

What’s interesting here is that, by describing a principle of botanical morphology, Paul was trying to convince some of the Corinthian doubters that a resurrection not only shall happen, but also how it’ll happen:

“Foolish [one]l! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies.” [1Cor. 15:36]

While a seed sown in the ground doesn’t actually die, much of its protective coating which keeps it from perishing before planting does indeed deteriorate in the soil.  This outcome is typical for any form of organic matter which is either dead or dormant and exposed to the decomposition processes which are always present in the earth—including human bodies. 

The miracle is that, whether seed or flesh, something new and original can emerge out of that which otherwise exhibits no evidence of life. 

However, the realization of this process is always subject to the condition of what is buried.  If a seed is to germinate in the soil, it must be planted properly in good condition when it’s sown.  It has no control over its ability to be regenerated.  That ability is wholly dependent upon the actions of its steward/sower.  

On the other hand, every human body is sown in a corrupted state, making it vulnerable to complete decay. [1Cor. 15:42-44]    Accordingly, I am the steward of my seed [or flesh] which shall one day be “planted” in the ground.  For this reason, I’ll never be able to reap what I sow into it, because it’ll all perish right along with me. [see: Psa. 49:7-13; Gal. 6:7-8]

But, if I choose to sow seeds into the fertile domain of the Spirit, I shall indeed reap abundantly from it even though, on that day, I’ll cease to exist and my flesh will begin to deteriorate.  What remains of me will, however, lie in the guardianship of the Lord—my Steward in death, until such time as He decides to re-animate it in a new and refreshing way! [see: Psa. 16:8-11; Rom. 8:38-39]

It won’t be one I’m familiar with, but it’ll never rot in the ground again. [1Cor. 15:37, 54-55]

So bring it on. 

“…but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  [1Cor. 15:57]