Life Begins with Death

A Russian team of scientists stumbled across a cache of seeds that were hidden by squirrels. What’s amazing is that the seeds had been buried by squirrels thousands of years ago near the banks of the Kolyma River in Siberia. The seeds were encased in ice 124 feet below the permafrost and surrounded by layers of mammoth, bison, and woolly rhinoceros’ bones.

What was even more stunning about these ancient seeds was that the Russian team was able to take viable plant material from them, place them in vials, and successfully germinate plants. The plants were identical to the modern S. stenophylla—except the flowers were shaped a little differently. The plants grew well, flowered, and then, after a year, created seeds of their own.

It’s an odd idea to many people to say that life begins at death, but it’s an encouraging truth for the Christian. We know well that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But how does life come from death? Christ illustrates this through a seed. “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24).

Paul the apostle explained that “just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin” so also “through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men” (Romans 5:12, 18). This righteous act was the death of Christ on Calvary, and the free gift is eternal life (Romans 6:23).

But there is another death that must take place to receive this gift— death to self. Paul told us, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It adds new meaning to the idea that we are dying to live!

Apply It:

Plant a seed this week and remember that it is through dying that we might live.

Dig Deeper:

Deuteronomy 30:19; John 5:24; Romans 5:10

Key Bible Texts

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4 KJV)