CHAPTER 23 – SOWING SEEDS

In Mark 4:26-29, Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a man casting seeds upon soil that eventually resulted in a harvest. Because God works on a different timetable than we do, many of the seeds we sow for His kingdom do not come to maturity in our lifetimes, but are saved for future generations. Great spiritual harvests can be the result of an accumulation of seeds sown over many decades or centuries.

An example of this can be seen in John 4 when Samaria experienced a city-wide revival. The harvest that occurred there was due, in part, to saints who had prayed and ministered in generations past. This is why Jesus said to the disciples in verses 35, 38:

“…lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest… I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.” 

The First Century Church

The great spiritual harvest that took place in the early church was a reaping of seeds that had been sown throughout the entire Old Testament. This is why, after walking his readers through all the great saints of history in Hebrews 11 (sometimes called “the Hall of Faith”), the author concluded in verses 39-40 by saying:

“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”

Why does that passage say, “…apart from us they would not be made perfect”? They were, in a sense, the final representation of all who had gone before them. The fruit of the Old Testament saints’ labors could not be fully realized until they culminated in a generation that began to see the fulfillment of the ancient promises – that the gospel would spread to all nations (ex. Genesis 12:3, 22:18), that the gates of hell would be defeated (ex. Genesis 22:17), and that the Messiah would rule over the earth (ex. Isaiah 9:6-7). When the author of Hebrews wrote Hebrews 11:39-40, he was acknowledging that his generation was building upon the foundations laid by others. He was honoring their spiritual mothers and fathers.

Consider some of the things the first-century church faced. There was seizure of property, persecution unto death, and state-sponsored occult worship. The world’s most powerful rulers declared themselves gods and demanded worship. Christians were accused of being cannibals, used as human torches, and killed in the arena for entertainment. False teachers, false prophets, and false apostles abounded, wreaking havoc on fledgling churches and leading many astray. Despite all of this, revival fires burned white-hot. The church grew rapidly.  A great harvest of souls was reaped.

The Last Day Church

What does this have to do with our time? If futurists are correct, the last day church will also live in a time of great darkness, deception, and apostasy (ex. 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 1 Timothy 4:1, Matthew 24:12, Isaiah 60:1, Revelation 13:12, 14:8). The last day church will also experience heavy persecution and martyrdom (ex. Matthew 24:9, Revelation 6:11, 12:11, 13:7-10). And the last day church will also see unprecedented revival (ex. Daniel 11:32-33, Matthew 13:24-43, Revelation 14:14-16, Zephaniah 3:13-14).

If the first-century church reaped a harvest that had been sown into throughout the Old Testament, as the writer of Hebrews stated, the last day church will likewise reap a harvest that has been sowed into throughout church history, and even since the beginning of time. Just as Jesus said to the disciples in John 4:38, it could likewise be said of the church in the last days:

“I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”

Just as the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrew 11:39-40, we could also say of deceased church age saints:

“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”

The saints from throughout history still have not fully received what was promised. As stated, they were promised that the gospel would spread to all nations (ex. Genesis 12:3, 22:18), that the gates of hell would be defeated (ex. Genesis 22:17), and that the Messiah would rule over the earth (ex. Isaiah 9:6-7). Therefore, they are now looking to us and our children and our grandchildren. All the seeds they sowed, all the prayers they prayed, all the faith they exercised, and all the labors they performed are still bearing fruit today. We are their family legacy.

During that same revival in Samaria, Jesus also said (John 4:36), “…so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.” I don’t think we can fully imagine the joy the saints in heaven feel as they watch for the seeds they sowed bear fruit in our time. Every soul that is saved is another sibling that will become part of their family forever. Every step of growth is a fuller demonstration of God’s nature to a lost world. We are their hope. They have already run their race; now they are looking to us. They are our biggest fans. They are cheering us on the way parents cheer for their children.

Conclusion

Family reveals the kingdom of God. Family reveals heaven. In heaven, the saints are all brothers and sisters and they have one Father. Jesus is the eldest Brother, the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29). Altogether, the saints comprise a bride and Jesus is their Husband. When we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, we are essentially praying for the establishment of an eternal family.

Our biological family is our first training ground for participating in our eternal family. It is where we learn humility, service, love, and forgiveness. When the Bible says the gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14), a large part of this is God’s kingdom being demonstrated by Christian families.

Every generation is meant to help the next build on its foundation. We all have a part to play, beginning in our own homes, with our own spouses and our own children. If we are faithful in this, we will become spiritual mothers and fathers, which is the highest calling human beings were created to fulfill. Our reward in eternity will be great, but more importantly, we will be helping the Father and Jesus Christ receive their reward. 

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are… Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:1-2)