Seeds of Greatness
It is one of the most unassuming fruits there are. There is nothing enticing about its exterior appearance. As they set their nestled together, they can often look uninviting to the point of ignoring, but they are simply magnificent: pomegranates.
Pomegranates are absolutely delicious. They are a beautiful fruit often overlooked because of the outer layer of the fruit which is not aesthetic or comely. Your eyes will not feast upon one of these delicious fruits, but once you see the inside, that’s the awakening. Pomegranates have many edible seeds inside that are called arils. The arils seeds look to the appearance of little red rubies: scrumptious things they are, a beautiful body of delicious seeds. The arils are clustered together as though they were woven for the perfect eating. They are simply incredible to behold.
Pomegranates have a white, fleshy substance directly under the skin called a membrane – the translucent, yellow material surrounding the pomegranate arils (seeds). Then there is the albedo- the white fleshy substance directly under the skin of the pomegranate. Then there is the aril – the botanical term for a seed surrounded by a juicy sac. And last, but not least, the rind- the outer peel or husk of a pomegranate. Much of the antioxidants, content of the juice, comes from the crushing of the whole fruit. There are several ways to deseed a pomegranate. It is your choice, but the benefits are what is inside this marvelous fruit.
Pomegranate seeds are protected by several layers of covering that makes it not easily obtainable to eat the seeds. The fruit can be a bit frustrating to eat because of the tough exterior. Pomegranates are often shunned by many people because of its unpleasant outer layer and the art of eating this incredible fruit. If the fruit is deseeded for you, and then placed in a bowl, glistering like little rubies, you would help yourself to one of these precious little seeds. Once you taste the sweet, juicy, arils (seeds), you will instantly fall in love with this bold flavor that satisfies and lingers in your mouth’s palette. After you have eaten this scrumptious fruit, you will not mind the technique of going through the outer layers of this fruit to get to its precious seeds. God created this fruit for man (mankind) to eat and enjoy. Our heavenly Father put several layers of coating to protect what is inside of this incredible fruit: the arils (seeds). Pomegranates are like no other fruit. They are simply beautiful to behold and eat.
Our heavenly Father has also placed seeds inside of us, many seeds. God has placed beautiful seeds in all his people, Christians, and non-Christians, before we were even born. These seeds inside of us are protected like pomegranate seeds, with many layers of spiritual membranes so that no situation, that we stumble into, or what someone tries to take from us, will be effective. The seeds that God put inside of us remains. How marvelous is that. Most of us have had our trials and persecutions. Trials and hardships are taxing but they often prepare and train us for excellence. Persecutions are not so, they are mostly hostile, with oppression and often, victimization or maltreatment. Even so, being a Christian, we will always prevail. Why is this? Why is it that no matter what atrocities, calamities, hardships, or persecutions, we as Christians always come to the surface once again? It is because of the seeds that God in heaven put inside of us.
Illness is another form of attacking Gods people, Christians or not. Illness can take a lot of determination and will power out of you. If you are ill or unhealthy, it can cause you to concentrate on your health issues opposed to God’s purpose inside of you. Although these attacks may come, the seeds (God’s purpose and will for your life) inside of you are unshakeable. Even in your darkest hour, the seeds that God put in you before the foundations of the earth never subsides. No famine, sickness, heartache, loss of a loved one or occupation, or material substance, even the stronghold or fascination with social media and material substance can never destroy God’s will in your life, never!
Even when you feel you can’t go on, to the point of no return, God’s will, his seeds inside of you, remains. You can make a final decision and declaration and say, “I give up. The dreams that God has put in my heart have not come to pass, or is taking too long, it will never happen.” With hands lifted up with declarations saying, “No more, I quit”, throwing in the towel, the seeds that God has placed in you still remains, even if you walk away from God or walk away from the dreams that he has put in your hearts. The seeds remain.
You can cry yourself to sleep every night, fly across the country to another land to run away from it all, take a cruise, the seeds remain. It is at the lowest hour in your life, when you have done all that you can do: advertisement for your new corporation, matrimonies, new houses, families, large bank accounts, yachts, and fast cars, and still no peace or gratification for what you have done in your life, to the point of despair and a heartache that will not go away. You see, it is when you think you have all the answers to God’s plan for your life, this is what causes you to go into a spiritual decline. Even with all the status you crave, still no peace. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and these things (material things) will be added to you. Status and materialism will come when you put God first. God will give you everything you ever desired when you put your trust in him and put him first, everything, he will give it to you. Once we put God first and surrender to his will and let the seeds that God put in us resurrect, then and only then, will we have total peace. Isn’t that what you want? Peace? I know you do. Houses, cars and vacations, spouses, and children cannot give us lingering peace that all men (mankind) crave for and most certainly cannot fill the void that only Jesus can fill.
Oh yes, beloved, God protects the seeds of his promises inside of us, like the pomegranate and nothing in this world can take it away, except when he calls us home (heaven). Then, the seeds will not remain. Your mission will be over. Do not let it be too late for you. Everyone that is reading this letter still has time to do God’s will. God wants you to have a good life and enjoy the land. That’s his word. But, we as Christians, and non -Christians, have seeds of greatness in all of us.
God is calling many of you to start daycare centers (childcare), international affairs programming, building refugee housing and medical buildings in other countries, better housing in this country and other countries in this world. Are you willing to take the step of faith to build or start that church? Are you willing to start that small bible study group in a local school cafeteria, or in a bookstore? Are you willing to open a small barbershop in your community? Are you willing to open a franchise or become incorporated? Are you willing to open a hair salon or small café, or open a small or large restaurant? Your good cooking is not just for your friends and family, it’s for your community. Are you willing to let the seeds of greatness be released like the juices of the seeds in the pomegranate? Oh, this is so sweet: success. Not your success, but God’s success and will for your life. Surrender to Jesus and walk in total victory and peace. Don’t be afraid, Jesus is with you. He will walk with you every step of the way. Besides, it is God who put the seeds inside of you in the first place: seeds of greatness.
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (PHILLIPIANS 2:13).
“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (PSALM 126:5-6).
Helen Trower
