growing

Nature – The Tale of Two Seeds

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Last June, I planted a few sunflower seeds in the mulch in front of our house, just as an experiment, to see if they would grow there. I wanted giant, tall sunflowers to grow in front of our porch windows. I waited and waited all summer, and then September came, but no sunflowers. My experiment failed as did my vision of bright cheerful sunflowers that I thought would grow out of the mulch.

But in a short time, I was astounded to see where I planted sunflowers something else was growing. There were four of them and as I looked closer, I could see that they each had bright lime green needles sticking out of its small central stalk. These four plants seemed to be growing in the very spots where I thought I had planted the sunflowers. The plants were only about an inch in height, if that, but so inspiringly beautiful that instead of being further disappointed that my sunflowers hadn’t grown, I was totally delighted to see these tiny green things, whatever they were. I was determined to identify them right away. Beyond all reason, I was still hoping they were sunflowers!

I immediately went next door to visit my new neighbor, who is also a gardener. She came to inspect these new little wonders and I was astounded to hear her say, “These are fir trees!” She said the seeds could have flown from somewhere into the mulch, or a bird could have brought them (and planted them?). Mighty fir trees. How did this happen? I was truly perplexed. Could a bird have eaten the sunflower seed and planted a fir tree instead? She further told me if I did not want the foundation to our front porch ruined, that I must kill these tiny fir trees or transplant them as they will grow several feet tall. I did a little investigation on the internet and learned that fir trees can grow from 2 to about 9 feet and are basically shaped like Christmas trees.

I wondered, could it be that these little fir trees grew in the same space as I was hoping to see sunflowers grow to remind me of what great things God has planned for us, things far beyond our imagination—from this life to the next—things that will continually surprise and amaze us in eternity. We will experience the surprises, the joy, and bliss that He has planned for us from the foundation of the world.

We are now waiting in earnest expectation of the things He has prepared for us. Like the wondrous surprise of fir trees, God has things to show us in heaven that will defy anything we can think or hope for in this life. With determined effort on our part, and with God’s help and guidance, we can all be there to experience life in the heavenly realm. Continual adoration and worship of our Heavenly Father will be what no words can express here. All afflictions we suffer here will be forever ended. Not only will there be no more pain and suffering, but we will not even remember how these things felt.

My friends, let us get ready to see Jesus. Find someone today who wants to know the good news, and help them to get ready, too, because we know with certainty that Jesus is coming soon. Whether alive or in the grave when He comes, we can be ready to meet Jesus with the joy and anticipation of life never ending.

As for the fir trees, I planted them on our property line and have been watching them grow into what they should be, reminding me to grow into what I should be as I prepare for my heavenly home.

Editorial – As We Draw Near the End, Part I

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  1. The battle becomes more intense and subtle:

“The Lord Jesus Christ came to dispute the usurpation of Satan in the kingdoms of the world. The conflict is not yet ended; and as we draw near the close of time, the battle waxes more intense. As the second appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ draws near, satanic agencies are moved from beneath. Satan will not only appear as a human being, but he will personate Jesus Christ; and the world who has rejected the truth will receive him as the Lord of lords and King of kings. He will exercise his power, and work upon the human imagination. He will corrupt both the minds and the bodies of men, and will work through the children of disobedience, fascinating and charming, as does a serpent. What a spectacle will the world be for heavenly intelligences! What a spectacle for God, the Creator of the world, to behold! The form Satan assumed in Eden when leading our first parents to transgress, was of a character to bewilder and confuse the mind. He will work in as subtle a manner as we near the end of earth’s history.” Review and Herald, April 14, 1896.

  1. Satan tries to snare God’s people with licentiousness:

“Near the close of this earth’s history Satan will work with all his powers in the same manner and with the same temptations wherewith he tempted ancient Israel just before their entering the land of promise. He will lay snares for those who claim to keep the commandments of God, and who are almost on the borders of the heavenly Canaan. He will use his powers to their utmost in order to entrap souls, and to take God’s professed people upon their weakest points. Those who have not brought the lower passions into subjection to the higher powers of their being, those who have allowed their minds to flow in a channel of carnal indulgence of the baser passions, Satan is determined to destroy with his temptations,—to pollute their souls with licentiousness. He is not aiming especially at the lower and less important marks, but he makes use of his snares through those whom he can enlist as his agents to allure or attract men to take liberties which are condemned in the law of God. And men in responsible positions, teaching the claims of God’s law, whose mouths are filled with arguments in vindication of His law, against which Satan has made such a raid,—over such he sets his hellish powers and his agencies at work, and overthrows them upon the weak points in their character, knowing that he who offends on one point is guilty of all, thus obtaining complete mastery over the entire man. Mind, soul, body, and conscience are involved in the ruin. If he be a messenger of righteousness, and has had great light, or if the Lord has used him as his special worker in the cause of truth, then how great is the triumph of Satan! How he exults! How God is dishonored!” Ibid., May 17, 1887.

“The repeated murmurings of the Israelites, and the visitations of God’s wrath because of their transgressions, are recorded in sacred history for the benefit of God’s people who should afterward live upon the earth; but more especially to prove a warning to those who should live near the close of time.” Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 270.

  1. No need for discouragement:

“When the Christian is looking forward to duties and severe trials that he anticipates are to be brought upon him, because of his Christian profession of faith, it is human nature to contemplate the consequences, and shrink from the prospects, and this will be decidedly so as we near the close of this earth’s history. We may be encouraged by the truthfulness of God’s word, that Christ never failed His children as their safe Leader in the hour of their trial; for we have the truthful record of those who have been under the oppressive powers of Satan, that His grace is according to their day. God is faithful who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 398.

  1. But, we must be growing in Christ every day:

“As we near the close of this earth’s history, we advance more and more rapidly in Christian growth, or we retrograde just as decidedly.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 407.

“As we draw near the close of earth’s history, there will be no safety for those who do not become familiar with the Word of God.” Sons and Daughters of God, 190.