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The Seed Savers By Colin Ogles People all over the world save the seeds of their favorite fruits and vegetables. As important as this is, the role of spiritual seed savers is even more valuable.
aving your own homegrown seeds, whether of vegetables or flowers, is very rewarding. It must be done with care, of course, to ensure that each strain is kept true to type. I find that the seeds harvested from my garden germinate much better than commercially produced seed. All over the world individuals, seed saver clubs and farmers nurture and multiply seed. The reasons for this are many and varied. For some it is an absolute necessity. For others, it is to keep treasured heirloom varieties from being lost forever. Fullness of flavor and reliability is another good reason to retain these tried-and-true types.
I was therefore very disturbed to discover that the ability to save our own seed may be taken from us by stealth. I was shocked and dismayed. How could this be? Read on. Big multinational seed producers have developed, perfected and patented a technology called zero reseeding (opponents call them terminator or suicide seeds). This technology prevents the seed they sell from reproducing fertile seed. In other words, this seed has been deliberately corrupted. It is done to prevent the new genetically modified plants, such as wheat and rice, from being utilized by others. Now, every seed-bearing plant or tree can be made to produce infertile seed.
It's just too awful to think what would happen if these big seed producers were to have a crop failure and be unable to supply their customers with seed. (Further information about terminator seeds can be found at www.etcgroup.org.) Perhaps this new technology might contribute to some of the famines prophesied by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. Only time will tell. Spiritual seeds The seed savers I know are generous people who enthusiastically share their seed with others. For Christians, God puts it this way: "Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God" (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).
The idea of the seed savers is to multiply and share good seed. Jesus commissioned His disciples to likewise go and share the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Luke 9:2). In Matthew 13:11, Jesus tells us plainly that only His disciples will understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. The implication is that, to be a disciple, we need to come to an understanding of this mystery. Seeds of the gospel of the Kingdom In Matthew 13:19 Jesus is explaining the parable of the sower. "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart." The seed spoken of here is the gospel of the Kingdom of God. But notice what it says -- the seeds can be taken from us. How? By failing to understand what God's Kingdom is all about. In verse 23, Jesus explains that understanding the Kingdom is necessary before we can bear fruit. "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Being born again not of corruptible "seed" but of incorruptible "seed" is embodied in the message of the Kingdom of God. In the gospel of the Kingdom lies the meaning of salvation and our destiny. It's the good news brought to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15). Recommended reading Before we can believe, we need to understand what this gospel of the Kingdom of God is all about. We need to know why it's so important that we believe in it and act upon it. In this gospel are the seeds of truth that we need to treasure and plant in our hearts and minds. The booklet explores the biblical answers. Begin your voyage of discovery into the mystery of the Kingdom of God. Copyright 2005 by United Church of God, an International Association All rights reserved. |
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Keywords: seeds preaching the gospel
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