The Soil, the Root, and the Fruit
A gardener looked out across a patch of sweet corn he had planted. Most of the plants were
lush, green, and beginning to tassel. But the plants at one end of the patch were small.
There was little visible cause for the difference. However, an amazing aspect of plant life is its
relationship with the soil. All life ultimately depends on the top several inches of the
earth's surface-the topsoil. Further studies indicate that even the subsoil content is vital
to productive plant life. As the plant roots probe the depths, they bring up
valuable nutrients from well below the surface. In the hidden environment of the soil,
worms, microbes, fungi, and other living things work together in a symbiotic relationship.
Indeed, some scientists estimate that the amount of life below the surface is equal to the
visible life above! Therefore, what this gardener saw in his corn patch was really an indicator of
what he could not see. Some of the conditions that affect healthy development are:

  • A lack of protection from the frost
  • Scorched by the heat
  • High winds that bend or break the plant
  • Lack of water
  • Too much water
  • Improper pH
  • To many plants around it
  • Shaded; lacking sunshine
  • Lack of vital nutrients

When we look at other people, we see what is visible. This is natural as the Bible says in
Matt. 7:20 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." But what do we see when
we look at ourselves? What kind of fruit are you producing? Most times we see only the good,
and we may often need someone else with a keen spiritual eye to show us our leaves are
yellowing or stunting. We must understand, as in the case of the gardeners corn patch, that,
what we can see is an indication of what we cannot see. When the hidden spiritual life
is flourishing, we see it in outward evidence. When spiritual life and fruitfulness are lacking,
we must look deeper than the visible for the causes.

If we find that we are lacking spiritual fruitfulness, we can respond in several different ways.
Self usually wants to defend self and may respond by claiming that only what is in the heart
counts, thus trying to separate the visible from the invisible. This is making a statement that
God knows my heart, not anyone else, and my fruit does not reveal what is really in my heart.
But this is as ridiculous as the gardener believing that his soil was fine and the root system of
his corn was good in spite of the yellowish, stunted, unfruitful plants.
We could also try to put on a show of spirituality to impress others. But that is like applying
nitrogen to the corn hoping to boost its growth without correcting the deeper problem.
Under the test, when it comes to full harvest it will be seen that it failed to correct the
problem.

As Christians the proper response we should have is NOT to go into denial or put on an
artificial front but to follow the Bible instruction found in 2 Cor. 13:5 "Examine yourselves,
whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves..." It is the duty of all who call
themselves Christians to examine themselves regarding their own spiritual state. We need to
prove ourselves and put the question to ourselves whether we REALLY be in Christ or not. This
takes time to do, and it requires looking DEEP within. If the conditions are not right or the soil
is devoid of proper nutrients fruit will be dwarfed, sickly, or not come on at all.

The other response we should have is found in Hosea 10:12 "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."
As the ground that is ploughed to receive the seed that it may take root, so we are to
prepare the soil of our heart to receive the seed of the word, that it may take "root" deep in
our heart and bring forth healthy fruit.

In nature, plants that have "deep penetrating roots" are able to bring up more vital
nutrients from the soil than plants with shallow roots, and the visible difference is in the fruit
which that plant produces. Let examine how roots develop in nature and see if we can
prepare the soil of our heart for the seed to take root in our hearts.

Early root growth is one of the functions of the apical meristem located near the tip of the
root. The meristem cells more or less continuously divide, providing more meristem, root
cap cells and undifferentiated root cells. The later will become the primary tissues of the root,
first undergoing elongation, a process that pushes the root tip forward in the growing
medium (soil).

Roots will generally grow in any direction where the correct environment of air, mineral
nutrients and water exists to meet the plants need. Roots will not grow in dry soil. Over
time, given the right conditions, roots can crack foundations, snap water lines, and lift
sidewalks.

At germination, roots grow downward due to gravitropism, the growth mechanism of plants
that also causes the shoot to grow upward. The Bible says, "And the remnant that is escaped
out of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward." Isaiah 37:
31.

There are two stages of growth, primary and secondary. Primary growth encompasses all
elongation. Secondary growth encompasses growth in diameter. There are two categories
recognized in the primary (elongated) root. The Taproot system, and the Diffuse root system.
The taproot is the primary and prominent root and has a single, dominant axis. There are
secondary roots running outward usually allowing for deeper roots capable of reaching low
water tables. The main function of the taproot is to store food. In the book of Job, it
refers to roots being used as food. Job 30:4 "Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and
juniper roots for their meat." Spiritually speaking we should be forming taproots and storing
the word of God within that we may be furnished with spiritual food, and have spiritual meat
for others.
The diffuse root system is part of a system that is firbrous and branches in all directions. The
main function of the fibrous root is to anchor the plant. This is powerful as the Bible
says in Proverbs 12:3 "A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the
righteous shall not be moved."

Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant. The presence of a taproot is why dandelions
are hard to uproot -- the top is pulled but the long taproot stays in the ground and re-sprouts.

Most trees begin life with a taproot, but, in one to a few years the main root system changes
to a wide-spreading fibrous root system with mainly horizontal growing surface
roots and only a few vertical, deep anchoring roots. A typical mature tree 30-50 meters tall,
has a root system that extends horizontally in all directions as far as the tree is tall or more,
but well over 95% of the roots are in the top 50 cm depth of soil. As we till the soil of our
hearts and allow the seed (the word of God) to take root in our hearts not only will the root
penetrated deeper in our hearts but will become thicker, more fibrous, spread out wider, and
become impossible to root up. Rooted in the word of God like this will allow you to become a
large tree, bear much healthy, life-giving fruit for others to benefit from. Look what the Bible
says in Hosea 14:5-7 "I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast
forth his roots as Lebanon. (6) His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the
olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. (7) They that dwell under his shadow shall return;
they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of
Lebanon."

The more we connect ourselves to Christ and till the soil of our hearts for His word to take
root, that root (the word) elongates, thickens, and becomes more fibrous making it difficult to
move us out of our place. Our foliage spreads out, becomes lush green and bears sweet fruit
for many to feast on. The Bible says in Colossians 2:6, 7 "As ye have therefore received
Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in
the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

May the Lord bless you to till the soil of your heart, that His word may take deep root in you
that you may bear much fruit for His glory.


Soil Check-Up
"Behold a sower went forth to sow; And when
he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side,
and the fowls came and devoured them up:
Some fell upon stony places, where they had
not much earth: and forthwith they sprung
up, because they had no deepness of earth:
And when the sun was up, they were
scorched; and because they had no root, they
withered away. And some fell among thorns;
and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
But other fell into good ground, and brought
forth fruit, some and hundredfold, some
sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." Matthew 13:3-8

"And now also the axe is laid unto the
root of the trees: therefore every tree
which bringeth not forth good fruit is
hewn down, and cast into the fire."          
                                     Matthew 3:10

Be a Bearer of Good Fruit
"The wicked desireth the net of evil men;
but the root of the righteous yieldieth
fruit."  Proverbs 12:2
       

"He shall cause them that come of Jacob
to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud,
and fill the face of the world with fruit."
Isaiah 27:6

Meeting the Needs of Body, Mind and Spirit
Temple Restored
Ministry