Through Death to Life

Through Death to Life

What you sow is not made alive unless it dies. This is a law of nature that people understand, but they don’t realize that it also applies to the spiritual realm. They are fools; therefore they are without true peace and joy and without hope.

The first man was of the earth, earthly; the second Man is from heaven. V. 47. We can see that the most important thing for people is earthly things. They have a sense for that; they worry about them and fight over them. They are fighting for their earthly image, for the glory that is of this world. They want to be esteemed and achieve something in this world, but they will never be content because of all this fighting and worrying. Many people are fools and cannot understand this. Remember that what you sow will not be made alive unless it dies. Everything that is of this earth is corruptible. The visible things will rot and rust away. Therefore they are not the true riches.

The second Man is from heaven. That is Jesus. He came to make our spirit alive so we could receive a heavenly image—that which is incorruptible, the true riches. But if we want to be made alive, we have to die! We must lose our earthly image so we can have a share in the heavenly things. The sorrow of this world must be exchanged for the sorrow that is according to the mind of God. The sense we have for the earthly and visible things must die, so we can receive a sense for the heavenly things—that which is invisible. Many people lose themselves in the earthly and visible things, and they do not even know that they have a spirit that is to be made alive. When you look at a grain of wheat, you can only see that which will pass away. And if the grain of wheat wants to keep the image you see, it will remain only the one grain. It lies there without hope. But if you want to see the germinating power that is in the grain of wheat, you have to put it into the ground. There it will lose the image you saw, but then life will come forth—the true treasure that you could not see before. When the grain of wheat dies, hope enters the shoot that arises. That will bear much fruit. We have to go through the same process. If we think only of what the body can enjoy and how it can decorate itself, then we have no hope. All our anxieties and worries will have been pointless when our body is laid in the ground. All our plans and expectations stop at the grave. How poor we will then be? Therefore people are afraid to die. They are in bondage all their days because they are afraid of death. But if you are willing to lose your earthly image—the visible glory—like the grain of wheat, then that will become food for your spirit, which is the true life God has given to each man. What I previously did not see, know, or understand, I now see and learn to know. My spirit is being made alive. I receive hope for the resurrection. Before, I was dead to God’s workings and alive to the visible things that my lusts demanded. Satan gained power over me through my lusts, which resulted in arguments, envy, anxieties, and unrest in my life. Now, on the other hand, if I die to what my lusts demand, my spirit is made alive to God’s workings. That will result in righteousness, peace, and joy in my life.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. It is sown in dishonor, but it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, but it is raised in power. Vs. 43-44.

You will have to endure dishonor if you are to lose your earthly image—that which people look up to and worship. Jesus had an appearance that no one desired. His kingdom was not of this world, and we will suffer the same fate. It is sown in dishonor, but it will be raised in glory. Therefore Jesus has received a name that is above all names. Every knee must bow before Him, and there is no other name by which man can be saved. He is the true grain of wheat that died to give us life. His blood can cleanse us from all sin. Therefore do not be a fool, but realize what is the right thing to do. Bow your knees before Jesus now, in the time of grace, and sanctify Him as Lord in your heart. Accept the reproach of Christ over your life, and you will receive a heavenly image. Then you will be glorified together with Him in the resurrection. To the human eye this heavenly image appears to be weak during the sowing season, but we rejoice, because it will be raised up in power.

Just as one star differs from another star in glory, so it will also be at the resurrection of the dead. Vs. 41-42. The extent to which I have lost my earthly image and my spirit has been made alive, that is how great my glory will be at the resurrection of the dead. Then I will receive an incorruptible body that corresponds to my spirit. Therefore do not be a fool, but walk on the narrow way that Jesus has consecrated through death to life. Begin as early as possible, so that you can partake of as much of Jesus’ glory as possible.

On this way we will lose our fear of death. Death will be swallowed up in victory, and in the resurrection we will be able to say: “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” Vs. 54-55. For us, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Gal. 6:7-8.