All the resources I looked at about preparing soil to grow a garden speak of the value of compost. Compost is “a decayed mixture of plants (such as leaves and grass) that is used to improve the soil in a garden; a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land.” (Merriam-webster.com)
The addition of compost to the soil enriches the soil for a better growing season and a more abundant harvest. Paradox? Dying things enrich the soil so that living things grow better.
Do you want to grow in your walk with Jesus Christ? Do you want to mature in your faith? Do you desire to bear more fruit?
Then death is necessary.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24
As you die to your own passions, your own desires, your own plans, your own way… well… to you, that death will enrich the soil of your soul producing more fruit. It’s not just death, sister, it is death that brings life.
I think too often when confronted with the challenge to die to our flesh in some area, we can’t see past the death part. All we can focus on is being without that thing. All we can see is the death, the unfulfilled longing the death will cause. We do not lift our eyes beyond death to life that lies on the horizon.
“For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:10-11
“For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:11
If you resist dying to your flesh, then you resist life as well. You cannot have life without dying. But the good news is THERE IS LIFE!!!!
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
