TO DIE IS TO LIVE

TO DIE IS TO LIVE

1 Corinthians 15:36 (Amplified Bible)

36You foolish man! Every time you plant seed, you sow something that does not come to life [germinating, springing up, and growing] unless it dies first.

‘to plant’: 1 a : to put or set in the ground for growth; to bury.

Just as when we wish to plant a tree in our back yards, or to grow fresh fruit, we have to first plant the seed. To plant something basically means to bury it. Now let’s apply this concept spiritually. In order for Christ to fully live in and through us, we have to first be buried in Him! Yes, we have to die to ‘self’ or to our fleshly nature which is naturally bent towards sin; that Christ can have total reign in our hearts!

Now just as the branches on a tree have to remain connected to the vine in order for the leaves or fruit to grow, we have to remain connected to the Vine (Jesus) in order to grow and produce ‘good fruit’ in our lives!

But let’s go a little bit deeper with this analogy. Some of you are in the mist of a storm, or feel is if you are in a fiery furnace! You feel as if you are dying or being buried alive; the pain is so unbearable! Well my friend, that may very well be so! God could be trying to ‘kill’ or bury the ‘old’ you, so He can take up residence in your heart! He may be removing (burying) all of the impurities which has filled your temple and caused it to stink!

You know, all of the hurt, anger, un-forgiveness, fear, worry, doubt, insecurities, lust, evil thinking and speaking, etc. That garbage has to be 'burned up'; all of those ‘deadly’ roots have to be 'cut off and thrown into the fire', so Jesus has room enough to move freely in and through you! (1 Corinthians 15:36) Yes, you have to ‘die’ so that you can truly live!

The good thing about all of this though, is that just as the planted seed, eventually grows up out of the ground into a beautiful tree or delicious fruit, etc., so will the new and improved YOU! And don’t forget the pain that our Lord and Savior endured before being put to death and being buried… BUT he arose! Yes my friends, just like the grave (the ground) couldn’t hold Jesus, nor will it be able to hold YOU! You are Jesus‘ Seed, and so like that tree; Oh praise God, yes, like your Savior, you are growing up and coming OUT! GLORY TO GOD!

James 1:2-4 (Amplified Bible)


2Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
3Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
4But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.






Copyright © 2010