The Seed, The Soil and The Yield

The Seed, The Soil and The Yield

Oral Roberts once said, “The next sure thing after Salvation is that, a seed will germinate.”

Yes, this is so. Albeit, with a provision.

That a seed planted, either by dropping on the ground or dipping it in the soil, will germinate does not necessarily mean it will grow to good fruition. Its growth to good fruition is premised on a number of factors that is beyond the capacity of the seed and even the competence of the human sower.

In Gen 26:12, the Bible says, ‘Then Isaac sowed in that land and received the same year a hundred-fold: and the LORD blessed him.’

The word ‘that’ presupposes a particular land was commanded to Isaac, not just any land in the area where he was, that is Gear in Philistine.

Concerning the children of Israel and land of promise, GOD said in Deut. 11:10-12, it is not like the land in Egypt where you water with your foot, but a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven, and land which the LORD GOD cared for.

While the children of Israel were in Egypt, they prospered exceedingly, but GOD said that this new land is much better.

We all know that the land upon which the nation of Israel is today is a fruitful land. Though it is in the midst of dry land, yet it is fruitful and not barren. This is because of the word of GOD in Deut. 11:10ff that they will not have to look for water to water it, but it will be automatically watered by the rain from heaven. As we all know, rain from heaven stands for blessings from GOD.

Therefore, that a seed is sown on the land and it germinates, does not mean it will mature to good fruition.

Take the parable of the sower; there are four soil types: wayside, rock, thorns and good soil. The seed sowed on wayside soil was not given the chance to germinate; it was taken up by the birds of the air before it could germinate. The seed that fell on rock soil did germinate but withered because there was not enough earth. The seed that fell inside thorn soil was choked by thorns, before it got to fruition.

All the above three soil types were a waste of resources, yet a seed was sown. This bring to fore the influence of the soil type on the life of a seed and plant. These three soil types were against the growth of the seed planted on them and the plant that came of the seed.

The Mediterranean apple is a fruit highly consumed in Nigeria, yet it is not grown in that country. As high as the consumption is, it is imported from other countries that plant orchards. Attempts to grow it in the country over the years failed because the Nigerian soil lack a nutrient that is essential for the nourishment of the plant.

The question is, on what type of soil are you planted?

Only the good soil was productive, but at three different levels of fruition; these open our eyes to a lot of considerations.

What could have made a so called good soil not to produce 100-fold?

The answer is in the interaction between the land, the seed and the environment.

Apostle Paul in 1Cor10:23 says, All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

Communicating this passage with respect to seed and soil, it says, “All soils are lawful for all seeds, but all soils are not expedient: all soils are lawful for all seeds, but all soils edify not (all seeds)

In other words, all good soil are acceptable for planting seeds, but not all good soil are supportive of seeds: all good soil are acceptable for planting but not all good soil bring forth high yield from all seeds.

This is why, in the parable of the sower, the good soil bring forth in one part 30-fold (30% of expected yield), in another part 60-fold (60% of expected yield) and yet in another part bring forth 100-fold (full yield).

Yet, there is another land for planting that is superior to the one mentioned in Deut 11: 10,11. In Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden Eastward in Eden, and there HE put the man whom HE had formed. The Bible says: HE planted a garden in Eden, not that HE planted a garden on a land. Eden means delight. So it is appropriate to say: The LORD God planted a garden Eastward, in HIS Delight. Eastward, towards the rising of the sun.

Because it is in HIS delight that HE planted this garden, then there is more to it than meet the eye. As a delight of GOD, HIS eyes, HIS mind, HIS countenance will always be there: HIS emotion will be attached to the place, and HE will be mindful of the place. 

And so, HIS Presence will be there all the time, HIS Glory will abide there, and HIS Pleasure will be fulfilled in it. HIS favourable disposition will be towards that garden all the time. Comparing this with the land in Deut. 11: 10-12, a land which the LORD cares for, HIS eyes are always upon it from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year, Eden is more desirable.

In Deut. 11: 10-12, the land drinketh water of the rain of heaven; rain of heaven means blessings of heaven. The garden in Eden is watered by a river that went out of Eden. So, it is a watered garden, and the water is from Eden, GOD’s delight. 

This river was parted and it became four (4) heads; these four (4) river heads filled the whole earth. Peradventure while moving out of Eden, the water passed through the garden and took some things of the garden with it. So, in Eden, there is water all year round unlike the land in Deut. 11: 10-12 which rely solely on rain that come in its season.

Ps 1:1-3 tells us of a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Meaning, whatsoever is planted on it shall prosper. Also in Jer. 17:7-8 …and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. No wonder, from the ground of the garden in Eden grew: …every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food...; also, there is the tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

For a ground that allows the growth of Tree of Life, then the water is life and life-imparting; it also impart knowledge. I desire this ground.

But there is a higher realm of this, a better understanding of the message: it is for the believer to become the seed planted, and to be planted in a soil that will allow full manifestation of potential. This soil will be a peculiar one; peculiar because man will be planted on it as seed. Another aspect of its peculiarity is that, it must bring every aspect of the man to fruition and fulfilment, it must be a living soil: one that can impact life. 

It must hold firm, support, nourish, boost and uphold the plant till the end. It must not allow pest, plaque, affliction, enemy and such adverse elements, to come near the seed and the plant that comes from it. It must ensure cleanliness in order to prevent tares from coming near the plant. In short, it must uphold sanctity and prevent corruption. we can call this soil the GODLY SOIL.

What is the GODLY SOIL?

The life of Jesus Christ is an example to understand the GODLY SOIL. Jesus Christ is the seed of the woman mentioned in Gen. 3:15. He is planted in this GODLY SOIL, and He prospered in all His ways. Jesus Christ as the seed planted on this GODLY SOIL grow to become the Vine John 15:1-16. As the Vine, we are his branches that bear fruit: HE CHOSE US TO BEAR FRUIT AND THAT OUR FRUIT SHOULD ABIDE. Much as it is the soil upon which the seed that grow to become the vine is planted, it also helped to prune the plant so that the branches would bear more fruit.

 Therefore, this soil is also the husbandman. It is obvious that the LORD God is this soil that also doubles as the husbandman; the LORD God is both the land for cultivating the vine, as well as the gardener cultivating it. As the land, everything needed for the germination, growth, development, maturation and fruition of the vine is in HIM. It is not subject to the elements of nature like, rain, sunshine, wind etc. As the husband man, 

GOD cares for the plant: HIS eyes are on the plant all the time. It is the plant of HIS delight: HIS Goodness, Glory, Presence and Countenance are favourable to it. The plant is in HIM; therefore, it is HIM, because it is one with HIM. it will express Him, manifest HIM and witness of HIM

A believer can be like this: being planted as a seed in this GODLY SOIL, which is the LORD God, and the LORD God being the husbandman.

All believers should earnestly covet this.

Remember, Jesus being the shepherd of the flock was also the gate of the sheepfold.

 In the same vein, the LORD God being the soil is also the husbandman.

I want to be like Jesus Christ, a tree planted on GODLY SOIL, which is the LORD GOD, so that I can express HIM, manifest HIM and witness of HIM. Amen