Matthew 13:31-32 (KJV): Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
ABSTRACT
This article delves into the parable of the growing seed, illustrating the mysterious, divine process of spiritual growth in the kingdom of God. Through a narrative of personal doubt and revelation, it examines themes of unseen germination, lifelong sanctification, bearing spiritual fruit, and the urgent call to hasten Christ’s return by faithfully sowing truth, all while trusting in God’s automatic power for the harvest.
DUSK DOUBTS DAWN!
The light is failing. It’s the kind of late-autumn dusk that drains the color from the world, leaving behind a palette of grey asphalt, damp brown leaves, and the weary blue of an early twilight. Sarah sits in the driver’s seat of her decade-old sedan, the engine off, the silence inside the car a stark contrast to the hum of the day’s labor. On the passenger seat lies her Bible, its cover worn smooth, and a binder thick with study notes. She has just left the home of the Millers, a family she has been visiting for six months. Six months of careful, prayerful effort. Six months of explaining the sanctuary, the Sabbath, the state of the dead. And tonight, like every other night, they were kind, they were curious, but they remained undecided. We face moments of doubt when efforts seem fruitless, yet God works invisibly in hearts. Sarah’s experience highlights how human diligence meets divine mystery in spiritual outreach. Growth in faith occurs gradually, as Colossians 1:10 (KJV) states: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. “The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 67, 1900). Ephesians 4:15 (KJV) affirms: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. “As in the natural, so in the spiritual sowing; the teacher must seek to make truth clear and attractive” (Education, p. 41, 1903). This quiet persistence reveals God’s hidden work in every sincere endeavor.
She scrolls through her phone, not at social media, but at her own digital notes—a meticulous log of her work. October 12: Shared ‘The Great Controversy,’ chapter 5. Discussed Daniel 2. October 19: Prayed with Mrs. Miller about her arthritis. Left pamphlets on the health message. November 2: They seemed moved by the study on Christ’s sacrifice. It is a litany of human effort, a testament to her diligence. Yet, as she sits in the deepening gloom, a familiar weight settles in her chest. It’s not a crisis of faith in God, but a quiet, gnawing crisis of efficacy in herself. Diligence in sharing truth often brings internal struggle when results remain unseen. The log demonstrates faithful action amid uncertainty. God’s kingdom advances through such steadfastness. 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) encourages: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. “Growth in grace is a continual work” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 520, 1881). Psalm 92:12 (KJV) declares: The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. “We must grow up into Christ, our living head” (Review and Herald, July 13, 1897). This self-doubt underscores the need to trust beyond visible outcomes.
The words of the prophet Isaiah surface, unbidden, a whisper in the quiet car: “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain”. It is the secret fear of every one who has poured their life into the soil of another’s heart only to see nothing break the surface. Isaiah’s words capture the universal fear of fruitless labor in spiritual matters. This fear arises from focusing on immediate results rather than divine timing. The community experiences this when sharing faith yields no apparent change. Philippians 1:6 (KJV) reassures: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. “God gives the increase after the seed is sown” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 420, 1901). Hebrews 6:1 (KJV) urges: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God. “The work begun in repentance, is carried on through sanctification to the end” (Review and Herald, September 7, 1897). Such fears remind us that God’s work continues unseen.
Am I doing enough? The question is a constant companion. Am I using the right methods? Is my speech persuasive enough? Is any of this actually working? The silence offers no immediate answer, only the reflection of her own tired face in the darkening windshield. It is in this space, this silence between the sowing and the reaping, that the most profound and liberating truths about the kingdom of God are to be found. Self-questioning accompanies dedicated service in God’s kingdom. These queries emerge from a desire for effectiveness in spiritual influence. The silence invites reflection on divine processes. James 1:4 (KJV) explains: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. “Patience under trials will keep us from saying and doing those things which will injure our own souls and injure also those with whom we associate” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 182, 1909). 1 Peter 2:2 (KJV) states: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. “The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in it a germinating principle” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 38, 1900). This introspective moment opens the door to deeper understanding of God’s ways. But what truths emerge from contemplating the ancient shores where Jesus taught?
UNSEEN GERMINATION GLORY!
To understand the nature of this silence, we must travel back in time, away from the paved streets of a modern suburb to the dusty shores of the Sea of Galilee. A crowd presses in on Jesus, an eager, expectant throng hungry for healing and hope. To escape the crush, He steps into a fishing boat, asks His disciples to push off a little from the land, and from that floating pulpit, He looks out at the scene before Him. On the beautiful plain of Gennesaret, sowers are casting seed with wide, sweeping motions, while in another field, reapers are gathering the early grain. It is a world of tangible effort and visible results. And it is here, looking upon this scene, that Christ tells a story—not the famous parable of the sower and the four soils, but a quieter, more enigmatic one, a parable so subtle it is recorded only in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus’ setting by the Sea of Galilee sets the stage for profound kingdom teachings. The scene contrasts human activity with divine mystery. Visible sowing and reaping mirror spiritual realities. Colossians 2:6-7 (KJV) instructs: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. “As the earth brings forth its bud, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 338, 1890). 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) praises: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth. “The seed sown upon the soil of the heart must be watered by prayer and cultivated by love” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 85, 1896). This historical context reveals the timeless nature of God’s kingdom work.
“So is the kingdom of God,” He begins, “as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how” (Mark 4:26-27, KJV). Jesus describes the kingdom’s growth as mysterious and independent of human control. The sower lives normally while the seed develops. This illustrates divine sovereignty in spiritual matters. Matthew 13:23 (KJV) describes: But 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 has in itself a germinating principle, a principle that God Himself has implanted” (Education, p. 104, 1903). Proverbs 11:18 (KJV) says: The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. “The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing—the reproduction of Christ’s character in the believer” (The Desire of Ages, p. 677, 1898). The parable emphasizes reliance on God’s hidden power.
Let’s pause and consider the radical implications of this depiction. The sower’s primary action after sowing is not to hover, not to anxiously manipulate the soil, not to devise new and clever techniques for germination. His primary action is to live his life. He “should sleep by night and rise by day”. He entrusts the seed to the soil and to a process that is utterly beyond his control and, more importantly, beyond his comprehension. The parable challenges anxiety in spiritual work by promoting trust. Entrusting the process frees us from constant intervention. Normal life continues as God works. Isaiah 55:10-11 (KJV) promises: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. “God’s word, spoken to the heart, has an animating power” (Education, p. 126, 1903). Hosea 10:12 (KJV) advises: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. “The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God” (The Desire of Ages, p. 126, 1898). This approach fosters peace in our efforts.
The central mystery of the kingdom is encapsulated in that simple phrase: “he knoweth not how.” This is a direct confrontation to the anxiety, to Sarah’s weary internal audit. The growth of God’s kingdom in a human heart is not a mechanical process that can be mastered and replicated through human ingenuity. It is a divine, biological mystery. The worker plants the seed of the Word, but the miracle of germination—the moment a soul quickens from death to life—is a secret work, hidden from human eyes. The kingdom’s mystery defies human understanding and control. Germination happens divinely in hearts. This relieves self-imposed pressure. Ecclesiastes 11:5 (KJV) observes: As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. “The work of sowing the seed is a work of faith” (Gospel Workers, p. 63, 1915). Job 8:7 (KJV) encourages: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. “Little by little the truth is to be unfolded” (Evangelism, p. 189, 1946). God’s secret operations assure ultimate success.
The parable then delivers its most profound theological statement: “For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (Mark 4:28, KJV). The Greek phrase translated “of herself” is automatē, the root of our English word “automatically”. The kingdom of God, Jesus is teaching, possesses an inherent, God-ordained, automatic power of growth. Once the seed of truth is sown, a divine energy, independent of the sower, begins its work. This is the ultimate corrective to a ministry driven by anxiety or reliant on human strength. It teaches, as one commentator notes, “the necessity of infinite patience until the laws of God have run their course”. Automatic growth defines the kingdom’s advancement. Divine energy activates after sowing. Patience aligns with God’s laws. Isaiah 61:11 (KJV) illustrates: For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. “The seed will germinate and spring up, and bring forth fruit after its kind” (Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 111, 1923). Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) declares: Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. “It is God who causes the seed to grow” (Steps to Christ, p. 68, 1892). This principle shifts dependence to God.
The apostle Paul understood this principle intimately. His ministry, he declared, was “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5, KJV). The success of the gospel does not depend on the eloquence of the preacher or the cleverness of the presentation. It rests entirely on the divine power that accompanies the Word. This is the consistent testimony of our pioneers. Ellen G. White warned that as spiritual activity increases, so does the danger of “trusting in human plans and methods,” leading us to “pray less, and to have less faith”. We are in danger of losing our sense of dependence on God, “who alone can make our work succeed”. The human instrument is indispensable—Paul must plant, and Apollos must water—but it is always and only “God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7, KJV). Divine power undergirds true gospel success. Human methods risk diminishing faith. Dependence on God ensures victory. Acts 20:32 (KJV) commends: And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. “The efficiency of the Holy Spirit depends upon the media through which it works” (Gospel Workers, p. 287, 1915). 2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) reveals: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. “By beholding we become changed” (The Great Controversy, p. 555, 1911). Pioneers’ insights guide our reliance on the Spirit. But how does this automatic growth apply to personal transformation?
SOUL SANCTIFICATION SAGA!
The parable’s description of a gradual, organic process—“first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” —serves as a perfect illustration for the great work of sanctification. This is the process by which the soil of the human heart is cultivated and prepared to bear a harvest worthy of God. Understanding this process is central to understanding the gospel itself. Gradual growth mirrors sanctification’s lifelong nature. The heart’s soil requires cultivation for divine harvest. This forms the gospel’s core. Philippians 3:12 (KJV) admits: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. “Sanctification is a progressive work” (The Sanctified Life, p. 7, 1889). Colossians 3:10 (KJV) describes: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. “Day by day God works in us, perfecting the character that is to stand in the day of final test” (Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 53, 1913). Organic progression defines our journey in holiness.
Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, or a day. It is, as our pioneers consistently taught, “the work of a lifetime”. It is not gained by a single, happy flight of feeling but is the result of a daily, progressive growth in grace. To grasp this, we must understand the vital distinction between justification and sanctification. These are the twin pillars of salvation, and confusing them leads to either legalism or cheap grace. Sanctification demands lifelong commitment beyond momentary experiences. Daily growth results from consistent effort. Distinguishing it from justification prevents errors. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV) prays: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. “True sanctification is nothing more or less than the love of Christ in the soul” (Review and Herald, September 19, 1893). Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) warns: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. “The work of sanctification is the work of a lifetime” (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 211, 1958). Progressive grace builds true character.
Justification is our title to heaven. It is the work of a moment. When a sinner, contrite before God, accepts Christ’s atoning sacrifice, their sins are pardoned. Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed to them—credited to their account. Legally, before the universe, they are declared righteous. This is a gift, received wholly by faith, not procured by any works that fallen man can do. Justification grants immediate heavenly access through faith. Christ’s righteousness covers the repentant sinner. Declaration occurs instantly. Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) affirms: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. “Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin” (Faith and Works, p. 103, 1979). Titus 3:7 (KJV) states: That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. “The righteousness by which we are justified is imputed” (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 392, 1958). Faith alone secures this divine gift.
Sanctification is our fitness for heaven. It is the work of a lifetime. It is the process by which Christ’s character is imparted to us—formed within us by the Holy Spirit. This is the gradual transformation of our desires, habits, and thoughts into conformity with the will of God. Sanctification prepares us inwardly for eternal life. The Holy Spirit forms Christ’s character within. Transformation affects every aspect. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV) exhorts: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. “The righteousness by which we are sanctified is imparted” (Review and Herald, June 4, 1895). Romans 6:19 (KJV) directs: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. “Sanctification is the progressive work of a lifetime” (The Sanctified Life, p. 83, 1889). Holy Spirit’s work ensures readiness.
The following table clarifies this crucial relationship: Feature Justification Sanctification Nature A legal declaration by God. A spiritual transformation within us. Righteousness Imputed (Christ’s perfection is credited to us). Imparted (Christ’s character is formed in us). Timing Instantaneous (at the moment of faith). Lifelong (a continuous, daily process). Our Role Passive reception (a gift received by faith alone). Active cooperation (working with the Spirit). Result Our Title to Heaven (Peace with God). Our Fitness for Heaven (Purity of heart). Key Text Romans 5:1 1 Thessalonians 4:3 The table distinguishes justification and sanctification clearly. Each feature highlights unique aspects. Understanding prevents confusion. Romans 12:2 (KJV) transforms: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. “The mind must be educated and disciplined to love purity” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 348, 1870). Philippians 2:13 (KJV) assures: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. “God works in us by the light of His truth, which enlightens the mind and sanctifies the soul” (Review and Herald, August 25, 1896). These pillars support salvation’s structure.
This lifelong process of sanctification is not something we can achieve on our own. It is God who sanctifies His people. Yet, His plan requires our full cooperation. We are called to “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy” (Leviticus 20:7, KJV). This divine-human partnership is the engine of spiritual growth. We must be “emptied of self,” renouncing the idols of our own opinions and ways, so that Jesus can supply the vacuum with His Spirit. Partnership with God drives sanctification’s progress. Cooperation complements divine initiative. Emptiness allows Spirit’s filling. Jude 1:20 (KJV) builds: But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. “We must cooperate with the agencies of heaven if we would have our characters developed after the divine model” (Review and Herald, February 21, 1893). 1 Peter 1:15-16 (KJV) calls: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. “Holiness is wholeness for God” (The Desire of Ages, p. 556, 1898). Mutual effort cultivates growth.
The only way for this growth to occur, for the soil of the soul to become fertile, is through a vital, living connection to Jesus Christ. This is the lesson of the True Vine in John 15. “Abide in me, and I in you,” Jesus commands. “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4, KJV). This abiding is not a passive state but an active, moment-by-moment communion. It is a daily process of giving and taking. We are to give all—our hearts, our wills, our service—to obey His requirements. And we must take all—Christ, the fullness of all blessing, to be our strength, our righteousness, our everlasting helper. Abiding in Christ enables soul fertility and growth. Communion sustains this connection daily. Giving and taking define the relationship. John 6:57 (KJV) lives: As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. “Union with Christ means an unfailing supply of His grace” (Review and Herald, March 19, 1901). Colossians 1:27 (KJV) reveals: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. “Christ abiding in the soul exerts a transforming power” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 92, 1901). Vital union produces fruitfulness.
Without this union, we can do nothing. All human effort, no matter how sincere or strenuous, is ultimately futile in producing spiritual fruit. Just as the plant in the field must take root in the soil and receive the sunshine, dew, and rain, so the soul must be rooted in Christ and continually receive the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. This is the essence of cultivation. The task is not only to sow the seed in others but to diligently tend the soil of their own soul, ensuring that their life is a demonstration of this abiding, growing, sanctifying power. Union with Christ proves essential for any spiritual achievement. Rooting in Him draws necessary nourishment. Cultivation demands personal diligence. Psalm 1:3 (KJV) thrives: And 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. “The Holy Spirit seeks to abide in each soul” (Evangelism, p. 289, 1946). Jeremiah 17:7-8 (KJV) trusts: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. “The Spirit illumines our darkness, informs our ignorance, and helps us in our manifold necessities” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 158, 1889). Personal tending exemplifies the process. But what fruit emerges from this cultivated soil?
FRUIT OF FAITH FURY!
The ultimate purpose of the sower, the goal of the entire process from seed to stalk to ear, is the harvest of “full corn in the ear”. In the spiritual realm, this harvest is not an intellectual assent to a list of doctrines, nor is it merely a statistical increase in church membership. The harvest for which the Divine Husbandman waits is character—the perfect reproduction of the character of Jesus Christ in the lives of His people. Character reproduction marks the harvest’s true aim. Divine waiting focuses on inner transformation. This surpasses mere knowledge or numbers. Romans 8:29 (KJV) predestines: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. “Character is power” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 340, 1900). Ephesians 5:9 (KJV) fruits: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth). “The harvest of life is character” (Education, p. 109, 1903). Christ’s likeness defines maturity.
The tangible evidence of a sanctified life, the proof of an abiding connection to the True Vine, is what the apostle Paul calls “the fruit of the Spirit.” This fruit is singular, a unified whole with many facets: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23, KJV). These are not qualities that can be manufactured through sheer willpower or self-improvement techniques. A wax fruit may look beautiful from a distance, but it is artificial and tasteless. The true fruit of the Spirit grows naturally, organically, from the life of Christ within. It is this fruit that serves as the undeniable sign of true discipleship. As Jesus declared, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8, KJV). Spirit’s fruit evidences genuine sanctification. Organic growth stems from Christ’s indwelling. Discipleship displays through these traits. John 13:35 (KJV) identifies: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. “The fruit borne upon the tree shows the character of the tree” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 326, 1904). Micah 6:8 (KJV) requires: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? “True goodness is accounted of heaven as true greatness” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 562, 1881). Natural manifestation glorifies God.
This inner transformation is the very essence of the kingdom of God. When the Pharisees, expecting a political revolution and an earthly dominion, asked Jesus when the kingdom would come, He gave a startling reply: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21, KJV). The kingdom Christ came to establish was not a temporal one, enforced by human authority and legal enactments. Our Adventist pioneers, especially Sr. White, powerfully articulated this truth. Christ’s government is like no earthly government; it is a spiritual kingdom, established “by the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit”. It is a kingdom defined not by territory, but by character; a realm of “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17, KJV). Inner change embodies God’s kingdom fully. Spiritual establishment occurs through the Holy Spirit. Character, not territory, defines it. Matthew 6:33 (KJV) prioritizes: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. “The kingdom of God is the work of His grace in the soul” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 81, 1896). Colossians 1:13 (KJV) translates: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. “The principles of the kingdom of heaven are to be interwoven with every part of our life” (Review and Herald, January 19, 1897). Pioneers’ teachings illuminate this reality.
The existence of this internal kingdom, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit, naturally leads to a life of outward service. The qualities of love, joy, peace, and kindness are inherently relational. They cannot be hoarded; they must be shared. This is why the law of God is summarized in two great principles: love to God and love to our neighbor. The two are inseparable. One cannot truly love God while practicing oppression or indifference toward their fellow human beings. Unselfishness, we are told, is the very law of heaven and the foundation of all true development. A life centered on self cannot grow or be fruitful. Therefore, the Christian is called to a life of practical service, seeking the good of others above their own. This active, selfless love is the ultimate expression of the kingdom within. Kingdom presence inspires service to others. Relational qualities demand sharing. Unselfishness fosters genuine development. Matthew 22:37-39 (KJV) commands: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. “Love to man is the earthward manifestation of love to God” (The Great Controversy, p. 504, 1911). Deuteronomy 10:12 (KJV) asks: And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. “Service to God includes personal ministry to those for whom Christ died” (Welfare Ministry, p. 33, 1952). Selfless love manifests inwardly.
This biblical focus on character-fruit as the primary evidence of conversion demands a radical rethinking of how we measure success in evangelism. In a world obsessed with quantifiable data, ministries often fall into the trap of measuring their effectiveness by numbers: decisions recorded, pamphlets distributed, baptismal goals met. This creates immense pressure on the one who sows to produce visible, immediate results. The New Testament, however, offers a different metric. The proof of discipleship is not a number, but a nature. The true measure of success is not how many people’s names are added to the church roll, but the extent to which the character of Christ is being formed in the lives of those they minister to. This is a much slower, quieter, and less immediately gratifying work. It cannot be captured on a spreadsheet. It is the patient work of cultivation, aligning perfectly with the hidden, automatic growth of the seed in Mark’s parable. This perspective liberates from the tyranny of statistics and reorients entire ministry toward the deep, transformative work of discipleship, which is the true heart of the Great Commission: “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20, KJV). Character focus redefines evangelistic success. Nature trumps numerical metrics. Patient cultivation matches parable’s growth. Proverbs 11:30 (KJV) wins: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. “Success in the work depends not so much on talent or learning as on earnestness and willingness to be led by the Spirit of God” (Gospel Workers, p. 191, 1915). Luke 6:43-44 (KJV) judges: For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. “The life that Christ lived in this world, men and women can live through His power and under His instruction” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 22, 1909). Transformative discipleship fulfills the commission. But how does this patient process align with the call to urgency?
HARVEST HEROES HASTEN!
The patient, hidden, almost imperceptible process of growth described in the parable does not continue indefinitely. It moves toward a dramatic and decisive climax: “But when the grain is ripe, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come” (Mark 4:29, KJV). This harvest is nothing less than the end of the age, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The quiet, individual work of sowing the seed in human hearts is inextricably linked to the grand, eschatological consummation of God’s plan. Growth culminates in the final harvest at Christ’s return. Individual sowing connects to cosmic fulfillment. This links personal and prophetic. Revelation 14:15 (KJV) thrusts: And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. “The coming of Christ is nearer than when we first believed” (The Desire of Ages, p. 634, 1898). Joel 3:13 (KJV) puts: Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. “We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 406, 1901). Climax urges readiness.
Here we encounter a theological concept that is a powerful and distinctive pillar of the Adventist message: the call not merely to wait for, but to actively participate in bringing about, Christ’s return. The apostle Peter exhorts us to be “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:12, KJV). This is not a passive hope, but an active imperative. The Spirit of Prophecy makes this explicit and personal: “By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord’s return”. The heartbreaking delay in His coming is not the will of God. “We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years,” Sr. White wrote, “but for Christ’s sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action”. Active participation hastens Christ’s advent. Gospel sharing accelerates the day. Delay stems from human actions. Matthew 24:14 (KJV) preaches: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. “It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69, 1900). Titus 2:13 (KJV) looks: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. “All heaven is waiting the word from the church to move to action” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 46, 1909). Imperative demands involvement.
This truth imbues the daily labor with profound significance. We are not simply spectators watching prophecy unfold; we are divinely appointed agents in its fulfillment. Every Bible study given, every prayer offered, every act of selfless service performed is a participation in the final events of earth’s history. The sowing of “this gospel of the kingdom… in all the world for a witness unto all nations” is the very work that must be completed before “the end come” (Matthew 24:14, KJV). The ultimate goal of this work is to prepare a people for the final harvest. And what is that preparation? It is the complete development of a sanctified character. “When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own”. Daily tasks carry eternal weight in prophecy. Service contributes to history’s close. Preparation involves character perfection. Amos 9:13 (KJV) plows: Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. “The last message of mercy is now going forth” (Evangelism, p. 219, 1946). John 4:35 (KJV) lifts: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. “The Lord calls for united action” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 14, 1904). Fulfillment engages every act.
This Adventist framework creates a dynamic and sacred tension in our lives. On the one hand, the parable of the growing seed teaches infinite patience. Growth is organic, gradual, and follows a divine timetable. The sower must trust the hidden process and not attempt to force a premature harvest. On the other hand, the call to hasten the day demands intense urgency. The work is vast, the time is short, and the eternal destiny of souls hangs in the balance. Tension balances patience and urgency in faith. Parable promotes trust in timing. Call requires immediate action. Matthew 9:37-38 (KJV) prays: Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. “There is need of a much closer study of the word of God” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 273, 1885). Luke 10:2 (KJV) sends: Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. “Every soul saved is a sheaf gathered for the heavenly garner” (Gospel Workers, p. 108, 1915). Framework navigates paradox.
How can one live in this paradox, being both patient and urgent? The resolution lies in applying these virtues to their proper objects. We must be infinitely patient with the process of conversion in the individual soul, recognizing that it is a mysterious, divine work that cannot be rushed or coerced. We must trust the automatē power of the Holy Spirit to bring forth the blade, then the ear, then the full corn. At the same time, we must be intensely urgent in the task of sowing the seed as widely as possible, recognizing that the global proclamation of the gospel is the non-negotiable prerequisite for the final harvest. The effective one lives this paradox daily. They labor with the relentless urgency of a sprinter in the scope of their mission, but with the profound patience of a farmer in their expectation of results in any single heart. Virtues apply differently to process and proclamation. Patience suits individual change. Urgency fits broad sowing. Hebrews 10:36 (KJV) needs: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. “Patience as well as courage has its victories” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 264, 1911). James 5:7-8 (KJV) beholds: Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise” (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 67, 1958). Daily living resolves the tension. But what renewed perspective does this bring at day’s start?
DAWN SOWER DESTINY!
The first light of morning filters through the blinds, striping the wall with pale gold. Sarah is at her small desk, her Bible open, a fresh page in her journal waiting. The weariness of the previous night has not vanished—the work is still hard, the days still long. But the anxiety, the heavy cloak of self-reproach, has lifted. In its place is a quiet, settled confidence. Morning light symbolizes renewed hope after doubt. Weariness persists, but confidence replaces anxiety. This shift comes from divine insight. Psalm 30:5 (KJV) endures: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. “Morning by morning new mercies I see” (Steps to Christ, p. 102, 1892). Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) renews: It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. “Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day” (Steps to Christ, p. 70, 1892). Fresh perspective empowers continuance.
She looks at her list of contacts, the same names as yesterday. The Millers. The Jacksons. The young man at the grocery store who took a pamphlet. But she sees them differently now. They are not projects to be completed, not statistics to be tallied, not tests of her personal effectiveness. They are a field. A field entrusted to her by the Lord of the harvest. Contacts transform into a entrusted field in her view. No longer metrics, but opportunities. Entrustment comes from the divine. Isaiah 6:8 (KJV) sends: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. “God calls for workers” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 203, 1885). Acts 13:47 (KJV) lights: For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary” (The Desire of Ages, p. 195, 1898). Shifted vision inspires faithful action.
Her responsibility, she understands with a clarity that feels like a gift, is to sow. To faithfully, lovingly, and prayerfully scatter the seed of truth. The germination, the hidden life stirring beneath the surface, the slow, mysterious, automatic growth of the kingdom—that is in God’s hands. Her role is not to manufacture a harvest but to participate in one. Sowing defines her clear responsibility. God handles germination and growth. Participation, not manufacturing, marks the role. 2 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) labors: The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. “Our work is to sow the seed; God gives the increase” (Review and Herald, October 13, 1904). Galatians 6:9 (KJV) wearies: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. “Perseverance in well-doing will bring its reward” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 520, 1881). Divine-human division liberates.
The Kingdom of God is not built by the frantic, anxious striving of human hands. It is not advanced by clever marketing or charismatic personalities. It grows in the quiet, in the darkness, in the mysterious and inexorable way a seed grows. It grows automatically. The call is to step out into the field each day, to sow in faith, to cultivate in love, and to trust the great Husbandman to bring forth His kingdom—first as a blade of righteousness in the human soul, and finally, as a glorious harvest at the end of time. With this assurance, she closes her journal, picks up her Bible, and steps out into the morning light, ready for the day’s labor. God’s kingdom grows through quiet, automatic processes beyond human striving. Daily sowing in faith trusts the Husbandman. Righteousness blades lead to glorious harvest. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) trusts: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world” (Review and Herald, October 18, 1892). Isaiah 26:3 (KJV) keeps: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. “Trust in God brings holy peace” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 167, 1868). Assurance empowers ongoing labor.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:7)
If you have a prayer request, please leave it in the comments below. Prayer meetings are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. To join, enter your email address in the comments section.
SELF-REFLECTION
How can I, in my personal devotional life, delve deeper into the truths of kingdom growth and sanctification, allowing them to shape my character and priorities?
How can we adapt these themes of unseen germination and fruit bearing to be understandable and relevant to diverse audiences, from seasoned community members to new seekers or those from different faith traditions, without compromising theological accuracy?
What are the most common misconceptions about spiritual growth and the kingdom’s harvest in my community, and how can I gently but effectively correct them using Scripture and the writings of Sr. White?
In what practical ways can our local congregations and individual members become more vibrant beacons of truth and hope, living out the reality of patient sowing and urgent proclamation?
PEOPLE OF THE BOOK 