Jesus used the metaphor of a kernel of wheat to describe his death, burial and resurrection.
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.” ( John 12:24 nlt)
One single kernel of wheat is buried in the dirt and becomes one hundred. One hundred replanted becomes ten thousand. In one more generation that one single kernel of wheat has become at least one million new kernals.
1-100-10,000-1,000,000 Wheat reproduces exponentially.
Wheat is harvested somewhere every month of the year on every continent. It penetrates into the soil and takes root. It’s harvest sustains life. That was Jesus’ plan for the Gospel…an exponential life sustaining “crop” in every corner of the world.
Religion is more like a Chia pet. It’s seeds stay on the surface. It’s artificial rather than organic. It doesn’t allow the good news to penetrate into the hard clay that is molded and baked into something it is not…
Like a chia pet religion takes work to “maintain”.
It doesn’t produce anything. (Religion is about looking good…not doing good)
It dies.
…and in the end you can’t believe you “bought it”.
Thanks for Sunday’s eye opener. I hadn’t realized how much like a chia pet I had become. Didn’t take too much soul searching to figure out I didn’t want to be there.
Me too! I’ve spent way to many years living the “chia pet” religious way. It’s so easy to just let the good news of Jesus into the “surface” of life…Sundays, church events, maybe even a mens ministry event on the weekend…but not let Jesus into the “dirt” of your life-EVERYDAY. Don’t stop searching…