THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER -- WINTER 2025

          Much of what Jesus taught, he taught indirectly in parables. Those that were hungry for truth found it, but those that were just trying to see some new thing did not understand. After Jesus told the parable of the sower, the disciples asked him specifically why He taught in this way. Jesus answered “[b]ecause it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matthew 13:11) 

          It might seem strange for a God of truth and clarity to deal in hidden wisdom. But God wants people to seek after Him, and this is the test. It is a beautiful thing to desperately search for truth, and then to find it. And the Lord knows that joy and wants us to experience it. Proverbs 25:2 says “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”

          Jesus’ earthly ministry was mainly focused on people who did not have the education that we have today. The disciples were common people who might not understand a deep philosophical conversation about mankind’s inherent need for spiritual redemption or the incarnation. But they did understand fishing. So, instead, he talked to them about being “fishers of men”. These simple people were not experienced enough or spiritual enough to recognize the deception and manipulation of their leaders. But they did know all about making bread; so Jesus warned them about "the leven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." Most importantly,  the disciples did not know much about ministry. And that was a problem, because they were about to lead the most important religious movement in the history of the world. But they did know all about farming. So, Jesus talked to them about planting seeds. 

           The continual cycle of planting and harvest is a perfect analogy for effective ministry in the kingdom of God. Since Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, the days and the seasons have continued, one after another. There are good harvests and bad ones, but through the ages, the law of the seed remains within itself. Yes, human circumstances have changed vastly. However, the human nature and the way ministry works have never changed. 

          Scripture emphasizes these basic truths about planting seed, both physical and spiritual, and they still hold true today for our benefit: [1] Some seed with always take root; and some seed will always be lost. We cannot know the result, so we must just keep planting. [2] What we sow is always exactly what we will reap. [3] Something must die before anything can live. [4] The harvest will produce exponentially more than the seed that was planted. [5] The miracle of the seed belongs to God alone: we cannot take credit or blame for what results from our efforts.  [6] Destructive and useless plants grow on their own while valuable plants take great care and cultivation.  
         

          The First Law of the Seed is that not every seed you sow will sprout. Not every seed that sprouts will survive. Not every plant that survives will be fruitful. Not every plant that is fruitful will bear good fruit. How do you know which ones will survive? You don’t know. What do you do, then? You just keep on sowing. They won’t all sprout, but some of them will. Some of them always will.
           Do you know that we have a tendency to preach the gospel to the people that we think will respond to it? But the truth is that you and I have no idea who will respond to it. Those who seem to be perfect candidates often laugh in our faces; and those who seem a billion miles away from the Lord sometimes will crumble at the altar in repentance and never look back. So how do you know the difference between those who will respond to the gospel and those who will reject it. You don’t know! So who do we reach for? Everybody. They won’t all respond; but if we keep reaching, somebody is going to respond. Somebody always will. 
          Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 says “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. [5]As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. [6]In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”
           You don’t know who will respond! Just keep on sowing. Do what you were called to do, with quality and integrity. Let God worry about the results. Yes, there is something to be said for being as productive and effective as possible. However, we must remember that our work will not be judged by the result but by the effort. Do the telling, and let God do the saving. 

         

          The Second Law of the Seed is that something has to die before anything can live. John 12:24-25 says “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. [25]He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”
          Of course, in this scripture, Jesus is referring to himself and he is being quite literal. He would die and be buried, and as a result of that death, a multitude of people would be part of the harvest. But he goes on to liken this principle to his disciples as well. He says whoever loses his life for the sake of the gospel. And of course, this means a physical death, but it also means sacrifice: sacrifice of time, sacrifice of money, sacrifice of comfort. Every pastor who has left a big church in order to go plant a church; every missionary that sacrificed a comfortable home and safety in order to bring the gospel to a new place; everyone who has paid his tithes instead of going out to eat because there wasn’t enough money to do both; every person who has put his needs on the back burner to help someone else; these good people are losing their lives, they are giving their lives, and as a result, a multitude of people will be added to the harvest, and those who are not added to the harvest will have no excuse. And that is exactly what the Lord intended. He wants to include us in the work, he wants us to participate in the sacrifice. He wants us to want it. He wants us to want it so much that we are willing to sacrifice something. Something has to die before anything can live. 

 

        The Third Law of the Seed is that one seed will multiply exponentially; and the more you sow, the bigger the harvest is going to be. 

          How much corn does it take to plant a field as big as the United States? One kernel! They say that if you take one kernel of corn and plant it, then take the harvest and plant it again, and continue in this way eight times, the harvest will be enough to sow every inch of the continental U.S.!
           II Corinthians 9:6 says “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”  I typically hear this scripture used to preach about money. But Jesus didn’t liken the parable of the sower and the seed to money, but instead to souls. And if we apply this to the work of God, the effort that we put forth, we find that a little bit goes a long way. Working with my own hands, I could never fill up heaven; but if I can reach ten people who can each reach ten people who can each reach ten people who can each reach ten people, it won’t take long to build the kingdom. 
   
          The Fourth Law of the Seed is that what you sow is exactly what you reap. You will know the plant by the fruit that it produces.
          In this analogy, the heart is like soil. Some people sow good seed, and some people sow bad seed. Some people sow good seed: they study the word of God, they fellowship with people that want to serve God, they form a relationship with Lord. Some people sow bad seed: they put wicked things in front of their eyes, and in their ears. They spend time with people who influence them. BUT Eventually a person’s life is overcome with the thing that he has sown. Some people spend their whole lives doing good and often it seems like that good is forgotten or that it didn’t have any benefit to anybody. It may take a while, but nothing is ever forgotten. In the same way, some people spend their whole lives doing evil, and often nobody even sees it. It seems like that wickedness is forgotten, like they got away with it. It may take a while to be manifest, but nothing is ever forgotten. Whether good or bad, you reap exactly what you sow.
            Galatians 6:7-9 says “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8]For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9]And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

​          Matthew 7:16-20 says “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17]Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18]A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [19]Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [20]Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

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          The Fifth Law of the Seed is that the miracle of life belongs to God only. Whether we are talking about farming or winning souls, God gives the increase, and God deserves the glory.
          Farmers work very hard and often don’t get nearly enough credit for the essential function that they fulfill in our society. Farming is a very physical job, and it is a big gamble. A lot of work and expense goes into planting a crop, but the harvest often depends largely on the conditions and circumstances that are beyond the farmer’s control. But when he is successful, it would be ridiculous for him to take credit for the miracle that happened in that dirt. He didn’t make that rice grow. All he did was put the seed in the ground and allowed the miracle of life to happen. All he did was take advantage of the law that was already in the seed. He knew that if he did it right, the miracle would happen. The credit for that harvest belongs only to God. 
          In the same way, it would be ridiculous for you and I to sit here and congratulate each other on the success of our ministries. Of course there are ministers who are wiser, or who work harder than others, and that deserves some honor. But what we need to understand is that there is a law operating here. If we live the gospel and we preach the gospel, somebody will respond, and the church will grow. And when it does, we need to give all the credit to God. Revival is something that God does; all we did was to take advantage of the law of the seed. 

Sometimes, you and I focus too much on the result of our efforts. Don’t judge a ministry by numbers. Two ministers—equally dedicated and equally qualified—can go to two different cities and one may have revival and the other may starve. I tell you that we should not weigh their ministries by that. 
           I Corinthians 3:5-8 says “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? [6]I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. [7]So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. [8]Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

 

          The Sixth Law of the Seed is that destructive plants and useless plants are easy to cultivate, while good and useful plants take great care to cultivate. 
           Apple trees don’t grow by accident. It is very hard for one to sprout. The conditions have to be almost perfect. And even if you can keep the tree alive, it may not produce fruit. When it does produce fruit, it may take five years. 

Cockleburs and thistle, on the other hand, -- well, you don’t even need to plant those, and you don’t have to cultivate them. They just show up. It doesn’t take long for them to take root. The only thing you need to do if you want a yard full of cockleburs, is nothing. They will find you. And this is the law of the seed; this is the curse that Adam had to endure.
 
           So I encourage you today to gain wisdom from the law of the seed. I encourage you to start by cultivating good things in your life. Sow to your understanding of the truth by studying the Word of God; sow to the spirit by praying and fasting; sow to your finances by giving; sow to your relationships with kindness and mercy; sow to your church by encouraging your brethren and by participating in the burden that we carry; sow to the kingdom of God by preaching the gospel to every creature. 

          Many seeds will never sprout. Sow anyway. And as the scripture says, “Let us not be weary in well doing, for we shall reap if we faint not.”