Core Truth: Death is always necessary for any sort of harvest to occur. This is a universal principle and if it applied to our Lord then surely it applies to us. We, too, will only bear fruit that is eternal to the extent that we are willing to die to self and all its wishes, aspirations, and demands, whereas whatever we are clinging to that He has asked us to surrender will cause us to remain unfruitful for eternity – the place and time where it matters most.
Scripture: John 12:20-26
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the (Passover) festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir, ” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, there my servant also will be My Father will honor the one who serves me.”