The Growing Cycle of Earth and Man

Written by: Dean Smallwood

(and edited by Frank Brown on 2-22-2010)

 #1. The Sower: The one scattering the seed.

 #2. The Seed: The “reproductive bodies” or the “offspring” that came from the original plant.

 These reproductive bodies produce a product “ after its own kind.”  Obviously, a carrot seed produces carrots, a tomato seed tomatoes, an apple seed apples, etc, etc. Now that is simple enough, but when you stop and think about this process it is a miracle within itself that originated at creation.

The phrase “after its own kind” is used no less than 11 times in the first Chapter of Genesis. When the Father made the grass, the plants, the trees, and the herbs He put seeds into them so they would reproduce fruit “after its own kind.” 

In Genesis 1: 11~12 the Father said; “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit after its own kind, whose seed is in itself on the earth, and it was so. ¹²And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed after its own kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself after its own kind, and the Father saw that it was good.” If you or I were to buy a package of seeds today and the package was labeled tomato seeds, wouldn’t we expect to see tomatoes once they were fully-grown? Of course!

#3. Planting: Planting is simply the act of scattering the seeds into the soil in order to produce a crop.

#4. Growing: Once the seed is planted in the soil, it actually starts to rot or die and then comes the process of sprouting, or the seed breaking forth from the earth. I recall a song I heard years ago from an unknown author that pretty well explains this process. The words go like this. “Oh! I marvel at the wisdom of my (God). Yes, I marvel at the wisdom of my (God). As I watch the little lily pushing back the mighty sod, I marvel at the wisdom of my (God).”

Other factors in the growing process are how the seeds are cultivated. Good water treatment and fertilizer are needed in order to keep the seeds moist and give them nourishment. Also required would be good weed cultivation. Pull up the weeds that keep the seeds from getting moisture and nourishment.

With proper cultivation of the seed, first appear the blade, then the bud, and then the bloom.

#5. Full Blossom: Is that which appears at full maturity. The full blossom is the image and likeness of the original product. The finished product is now ready to be harvested.

Now, consider this same process with regard to the Father making man, and planting him on the earth to grow. Isaiah 55: 11~12 says; ” For as the rain comes down, and the snow from the heavens, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, and give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so is My Word that goes forth from My mouth~ it does not return to Me empty, but shall do what I please, and shall certainly accomplish what I sent it for.”

Of course we are not plants, trees, or vegetables, but we were made in His image and likeness in order to show forth “fruits of righteousness” which originated from Him.

From the very beginning of creation, plants, animals and man were created to produce fruit after its own kind, or to have the same image and likeness of the first thing made. Consider Genesis 1: 26, which says; “ Let us make man in our image and likeness.”

The word “image” means a similar outward appearance.

The word “likeness” means to resemble, to imagine, or to think like.

When Adam (the first man produced) was made from the dust of the ground he was told to be fruitful and multiply. Certainly the Father would have planted “good seed” in Adam and would expect to see His offspring produce fruit according to His image and likeness. Would He not? Surely He would not have planted any “bad seed” in him!

Unfortunately the devil planted the “bad seed” in Adam and the image and likeness of the Father became distorted.

But the father would restore His image and likeness in man by promising to plant another “Seed” in our heart. If this “Seed” would be properly cultivated it would produce the fruit it was originally intended to produce. Keep in mind this would be a lifelong process. Scripture says that you shall know them by their fruit.

The Master gives us further understanding in the Parable of the Sower in Matt. 13: 3~9 and Matt. 13: 18~23.

First let’s read Matt. 13: 3~9  “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; ⁴And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: ⁵Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: ⁶And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. ⁷And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: ⁸But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. ⁹Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” 

Matt. 13: 18~23 is where the Master explains the Parable and compares it to how the earth grows and how man grows when he receives “Seed” or the Word.  “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. ¹⁹When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he, which received seed by the way side. ²⁰But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; ²¹Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  ²²He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. ²³But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

The “Seed” is the written word (the Scriptures) and the written Word became a person! All the “seeds of righteousness” from the Father would be planted in this one person. His name of course is Yahshua the Messiah! He would be the exact image and likeness of the Father. Yahshua the Messiah said Himself, that if you have seen Me you have seen the Father. In essence He was telling us that He possessed every characteristic and attribute that the Father has. All that the Father is, has been revealed to us in Yahshua the Messiah!

In Him we find all of the attributes of the Father. Just to name a few ~ we see the fruit of Love, Joy, Peace, Long Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance.

In Him we see complete obedience all the way to His death. In Him we see that He was able to do in the flesh what you and I could not do.

Scripture says that the Word, the Fathers “Seed” became flesh and lived among us. Yahshua the Messiah satisfied the Fathers’ expectation of what the Fruit is supposed to look like. The Fathers image and likeness is fully restored through Yahshua the Messiah. He is the Full Blossom!

Fortunately for us, instead of destroying man, the Father desires to do a transplant in our heart so we can become reborn ~ or “born from above” (born again). This happens when a man is willing to have the Word or the “Seed” planted in him from the Father.

And so, the same “growing cycle” the earth experiences now apply to us. 

#1. The Sower: The Sower is really our heavenly Father who gives us His Word to be scattered throughout the earth by His servants.

#2. The Seed: This is the Word! It is the Word written and the written Word becoming flesh, in the person of Yahshua the Messiah.

 #3. The Planting: The planting is in our heart (in our inner most being). If you have an ear and are hearing this message you have the opportunity to have His “Seed” (Yahshua the Messiah) planted into your heart. How? Simply ask and believe.

Our heart is the soil where the Sower wants to plant His “Seed”. He wants to make a transplant perhaps from an old rocky, stony, failing heart, to a heart filled full of His fruit.

#4. The Growing process: Sometimes this can be the most challenging, difficult, and painful, because it does not happen overnight. Our innermost being fights and struggles against all sorts of temptations to sin. We are like that little lily under great pressure trying to push back the mighty sod.

The pressure from the enemy is always trying to feed us “bad seed” in hopes that we will let the “good seed” sowed by the Father, go by the wayside, or fall on stony grown, or be tossed among the thorns and thistles. But we don’t have to let that happen!

Once we have the Fathers “Seed” (Yahshua the Messiah planted in us) we now have someone greater than the devil wanting to take up a permanent residence in our heart. As scripture says, Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

Also keep in mind that during this lifelong growing process our hearts need cultivating to rid us from some of the weeds (sin) that has been planted by the enemy. But always remember that these weeds (sin) are plucked out through loving conviction and not by condemnation.

The Word proclaims that there is no condemnation to those who are in Yahshua the Messiah Messiah (Christ Yahshua) to those who walk after the things of the Spirit (What’s written in the Word) and who do not walk after the things of the flesh.

The Father’s Holy Spirit is sent to help us, not to condemn us! When we are lovingly convicted of sin (weed growth from bad seed) we should recognize it as part of the growing process and quickly repent of the sin and let the Father keep on plowing (or cultivating) the soil of our hearts.

Another part of our growing process should be obvious. When one receives a “new heart” we need to keep it nourished. Our nourishment is from the Word. We are to desire the sincere milk of the Word so that we may grow thereby. We should not neglect to feed ourselves from the Word every single day. Yahshua the Messiah said; “Man cannot live by bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of the Father.” The Word helps the Seed planted to grow! Consider Psalms 1: 1~3 which says; “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the unYahwehly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 

²But his delight is in the law (Torah, instructions) of the LORD; and in his law (Torah, instructions) doth he meditate day and night. ³And he shall be like 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.

Then when the lifetime growing process has run its course we get to see the Full Blossom!

#5. The Full Blossom!  Is the fruit “after its own kind”.   We will see the Father’s perfect image and likeness of Himself. We shall BEHOLD HIM face to face! 

Revelation 21: 4~5 “And the Father shall wipe away all tears from our eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ⁵And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”

So this coming spring, pause and observe the growing process. Witness the Wisdom and Splendor of it all! Watch the little lily as it pushes back the mighty sod and springs forth first the blade, then the bud, and then the bloom.

But more importantly, pause and observe the growing process going on within our own hearts.

Ask yourself ~ have I had “His Seed” planted in me? If so, am I scattering “His seed” by telling others about Yahshua the Messiah? Am I allowing His Holy Spirit to cultivate my heart and lovingly convict me of sin and then repent? Am I getting the nourishment I need, by feeding on His Word every day? Do I desire the sincere milk of the Word so that I may grow? So that I may feast on the MEAT of his Word as I mature from a child to adulthood in Yahshua the Messiah?