NATURE AND FAITH
From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and stars and all that God has made. Seeing the visible make us understand the invisible God, as Romans 1:19-20 says: For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship,
FLOWERS HELP US UNDERSTAND OUR FAITH
The primary function of a flower is reproduction, ensuring the survival of the species. Through the process of pollination and fertilization, flowers produce seeds. The flower fades away and the seeds fall to the ground. When flowers are picked during the time that they are most attractive and are put into water they may continue to be attractive for a while but will not continue their natural cycle of seed production and slowly shrivel and die without producing seed. They must remain on the plant which has given it life to complete it’s purpose. (Picking wildflowers on state or federal land is illegal without a valid permit.)
Jesus says in John 15:4-8: Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
Colorful flowers are a gift from God to enhance our pleasure. Did you ever thank God that we do not live in a black and white world? In addition to flowers we have colorful sunrises, sunsets, rainbows etc. Bees and humming birds are attracted to flowers because of their
color and preform the task of pollinating in the process.
Fragrance also attracts pollinators. Different scents attract different insects. Flies are attracted to scents that resemble decaying matter. We enjoy the sweet fragrance and make perfumes and incense from flowers.
Eph 5:2 tells us that Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
Our lives also should be like sweet smelling fragrance attracting people to the knowledge of a loving Savior, according to 2 Cor. 2:14-16: But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an odor that brings death, to the other a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?
The sweet nectar produced by flowers also attracts pollinators. We enjoy the honey manufactured by bees. Our relationship to God is referred to as even more desired than the sweetness of honey in Psalm 19:9-11:
the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.
Some Flowers are also edible, like Nasturtiums, pansies, violets, hostas, roses, French marigolds chrysanthemums, tulips, hollyhocks. gladioli, clover, and dandelions
FRUIT
Some flowers just produce seeds and some produce fruit that contains seeds.
The Bible talks about the fruit of repentance – the action that is reveals a change of heart. It also refers to pleasing God in every good work. Matt. 3:8. Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. NIV
The results of being led by the Holy Spirit are described as the fruit of the Spirit. The many varieties of delicious fruit that our creator has provided for us to enjoy are compared with the abundance of spiritual benefits of a life filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gal.5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Our actions that help others are called fruit in Col. 1:9-10: For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
SEEDS
Seeds produced from the flower fall to the ground. Only if the outer covering decays and weakens can the inner part emerge and start a new plant. Jesus compares this process to himself in John 12:24,25. Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He died and the fruit was our salvation.
The seeds can be eaten as nuts or ground into flour. They provide food for birds and other animals. Seeds are essential to our diet. The seed in the parable of the Sower and the Seed is referred to as the Word of God. Just as the planter spreads this seed we share the love of God with those we meet to provide spiritual nourishment.
Jesus told a parable about seeds, and explained it in Luke 8:11-15 Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature. But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.
In Gen. 1:11-12 we read of God’s creation of plants bearing seeds and fruit. In Gen.1:28 God tells man to be fruitful and multiply. Isn’t it interesting that plants and animals reproduce in similar ways with male and female parts. Each bear fruit to ensure the survival of the species. Some plants are undesirable, considered as weeds bearing seeds that are a nuisance or harmful like the fruit of the sinful human nature.
Gal. 5:17,19-21. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Other plants are desirable and essential, like the fruit of the Spirit.
Gal.5:22-2. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
The lily is mentioned in the Bible to assure us of God’s care for us as He cares for things in nature like the wildflowers. We are not to worry, but trust in Him.
Matt 6:28-33. And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of Godg and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
The rich are warned about pride because they too with all their wealth will fade away like the flower in the field. James 1:10-11:
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Even though we, like the grass and the flower will fade away, God’s love is everlasting, according to Psalm 103:15-18: As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts
Our short life span is also referred to in Isaiah 40:6b-8
All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
WATER
Water is needed for plants to be able to produce the necessary sugar to fuel their growth and develop their leaves and flowers. Leaves and flowers quickly wither to indicate lack of water. Many areas on our planet are experiencing severe drought. We cannot live long without liquid water. There is also such a thing as spiritual drought.
Psalm 63:1-2 expresses our thirst for God, to know His power, what He does, and His glory, who He is:
O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You.
My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.
So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory.
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Psalm 42:1-2 The Passion translation speaks of the longing and thirsts for God is times of despair: I long to drink of you, O God, to drink deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you. My soul thirsts, pants, and longs for the living God. I want to come and see the face of God.
John 4:10-15 answers the woman’s question as to where to get living water:
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
“Sir,” the woman replied, “You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then will You get this living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?”
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
People feel a thirst (a need), but try to quench that thirst with temporal things that only make then more thirsty, instead of living water, But John 7:37 speaks of Jesus, the source of rivers of living water that flow from us (believers) to others through the Holy Spirit: On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
SUNLIGHT
Natural sunlight is needed by flowers, for it provides unique intensity that allows the process of photosynthesis to produce the nutrients for the energy to create the flowering stage and the fruit with the seeds.
We could not survive if we did not have the food that plants provide so we are dependent om the sunlight also. But there is also a spiritual light. That light is Jesus who is our source of eternal life, for in John 8:24 Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
That light can be reflected from Jesus through us to others. Matt. 5:14-16: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Without the spiritual light we walk in darkness, unable to discern truth from error, good from evil, and the path to eternal life.
When we are in heaven, God himself will be our light, according to Isaiah 60:19.
The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
Written by Sue Found, June 2025
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