“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the soil and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:24
The dark night has come. The end of Jesus’ earthly life is near. Using soil as a metaphor, he explains both the necessity of his death and the subsequent outcome. John later tells us that many in the crowd believed that day, but did so secretly in fear of being put out of the synagogue.
In these words of Christ we have a both a message and a world-view. The message is declarative. Those in love with the things of this life lose that which really matters, while those in love with Christ reap the benefits of His saving work now and forever. This is a message our wayward hearts need to hear daily. Why? It’s because this principle of life through death is contrary to both intuition and commonsense. It is only when we are walking in union with Jesus that we truly experience its truth and power.
But just as importantly, the implication of the worldview Jesus uses to communicate His message of life through death has life changing properties. He says a kernel of wheat must fall into the dark earth and cease to exist as a mere kernel if it is to bring forth new life. Is this just good communication on the part of Jesus? Is He simply borrowing the vernacular of an agrarian culture to make a point about the vitals of salvation? I don’t believe so. The implication is that the gospel and the soil are linked.
How so? Gregory of Nyssa, a younger brother of St. Basil puts it this way: “When we look at creation, we form an image not of the substance of the Creator, but of the wisdom he has revealed in his work. We can see God’s goodness in every object around us, and the contemplation of any object carries our minds upward to the supreme source of goodness.” I find this observation to be truly fascinating. Gregory is communicating something about creation that we would be wise to consider; something Jesus and the Holy Scriptures even encourage us to respect.
As Scripture testifies, God in His essence transcends all human understanding. He cannot be approached by human intellect. That is why we are told that the ways of God are unsearchable and even beyond human reason. Yet, simultaneously we are told that God in His love and mercy has granted several ways for us to apprehend Him. In other words, He has provided timeless means of grace that give us ongoing access to His good nature. It matters not your age, color, educational background, vocation, or hobbies. Both Scripture and creation are gifts to be explored and contemplated by all (Psalm 19).
Yet how does one strengthen this Word-soil bond in a culture that is primarily post-agrarian, or shall we say is spiritually schizophrenic in the areas of faith and matter?
In asking this question there is no intent in alluding to a golden age. Christians have always struggled to deal directly and openly with the fullness of God’s Word. And yet, at the same time we need to qualify this confession with the admission that some eras understood or at least enjoyed the intended order of life better than others. For instance, there was a day when vegetable gardens put many families on their knees and kept their hands in the soil. There was a day when young children sat on their mother’s lap in the cool of an evening, rocking on the porch to the cadence of summer locusts, later to rise and chase the fireflies of the night. When activities like this happened, subtle lessons were being taught. Many came to know something about the Lord in these common everyday moments. They learned that God was inescapable. They sensed the sacredness of life. They felt led to take off their shoes. They knew deep down in their souls that they were on holy ground.
This is the bond of which the Bible talks about when it comes to the wedding of God’s message and worldview. Let’s face it; we are a generation that loves our computers, TVs, cars, air-conditioning, smartphones, and the culture they create. We love what they give us – that sense of control and relevancy. But what is the tradeoff? What happens to a people when you divorce the Word from the Bible’s worldview?
Perhaps your own longings provide the answer. Are you sensing the need for more of Jesus in your life? Begin by digging deeply into the Bible. But don’t stop there. Let the Word of God teach you how to slow down, listen, and nurture values that open your heart to the presence of Christ around you. In other words, try putting your hands back in the garden. Take time to chase the fireflies of the night. You might be surprised what happens in the dark night of the soil.
