So we want to leave a legacy. And we know what we want our legacy to BE. A legacy that has eternal impact.
And we understand that the first step is to BE fruitful where we are. In whatever season, whatever place, we are to bear fruit.
Ok, so what?
Let's digress for a brief botany lesson...
Fruit, by scientific description, contains seeds. (So I suppose that, the debate about tomato fruit vs. vegetable is settled...at least botanically. I think it's a vegetable but for the sake of science I will acquiesce. ) Fruit contains seeds. And from those seeds, more fruit is planted. Hmmmmm - by perpetuating itself, fruit has a lasting legacy!
SO what does that mean for us, spiritually?
The Gospel of Luke explains it to us this way in chapter 8 -
4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
The seed is the Word of God. Clearly. And when planted in good soil, and watered, that seed bears fruit. Even tiny seeds can produce great fruit. (see Matthew 17:20 - mustard seed).
To bear fruit in every season, we must plant God's Word. In our own lives as well into the lives of others.
Next Wednesday we will see practically how that works...