Christ told His disciples, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12:24). “The seed dies to spring forth into new life, and in this we are taught the lesson of the resurrection” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 87). As the seed dies before its germination, so we must die to the world and to sin before our spiritual resurrection takes place (see Galatians 6:14).

To the Roman converts Paul wrote: “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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. . . . Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:4, 5, 11).

For healthy growth, the seed must be planted in good soil, a soil rich in minerals, for the plant receives its nutrients from the ground. In the parable of Matthew 13, the field represents “the church of Christ in the world” (Ibid., p. 70).

The church is the only true ground, being referred to as the “ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

The church is also called the Lord’s garden in which we are planted (Psalm 92:13). The Lord does not want us to be in the wilderness of the world, but He wants us to be planted in His beautiful garden where we can receive proper nutrients for our growth. For “it is in the church that we are to grow and ripen for the garner of God” (Ibid.).

“So is the kingdom of God,” said Christ, “as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how” (Mark 4:26, 27).

“The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous, so is the development of the Christian life. At every stage of development our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement” (Ibid., p. 65).

The growth of the plant is not haphazard; it is a well regulated process. To grow properly, every plant needs three vital elements: water, sunshine, and air. Let us briefly examine these elements and see how are they related to our spiritual wants.

Water is life—without it no plant or human being can live. The life of the plant is greatly dependent upon the supply of water. A good supply of water means life and health and strength for the plant. This is why the Bible teaches that the righteous are like trees “planted by the rivers of water” (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8).

In the Old Testament God gave this wonderful promise to His children: “I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree” (Hosea 14:5, 6).

In the New Testament Christ offers to the woman of Samaria living water (John 4:10–14). But what does the living and spiritual water represent? It represents the Holy Spirit and God’s Word (John 7:37–39; Ephesians 5:26). “The roots of the plant strike down deep into the soil, and hidden from sight nourish the life of the plant. So with the Christian; it is by the invisible union of the soul with Christ, through faith, that the spiritual life is nourished” (Ibid., p. 47).

Carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air is also essential for the life of the plant. We as humans have a wonderful relationship with the plant kingdom: plants recycle the carbon dioxide that we exhale, transforming it into the pure oxygen that we inhale. They need the carbon dioxide to live as much as we need oxygen.

The air symbolizes the graces of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). “In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus” (Steps to Christ, p. 68).

The exchange of air between the plants and us is also a symbol of prayer. We should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) as we breathe without ceasing. The Spirit of Prophecy tells us that “prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor” (Gospel Workers, pp. 254, 255).

Many experiments have been conducted, the results of which show that plants cannot live without light. Through a process known as photosynthesis, the leaves of the plant capture the light energy from the sun to convert the minerals received from water and carbon dioxide into organic molecules known as carbohydrates. Thus the plant is fed and will consequently grow up beautifully and symmetrically.

The Bible tells us that the Lord is our Sun of Righteousness, the light of the world (see Psalm 84:11; Malachi 4:2; John 8:12; 9:5), and “as the flower turns to the sun, that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven’s light may shine upon us, that our character may be developed into the likeness of Christ” (Steps to Christ, p. 68).

After receiving these vital elements, the plant will certainly mature and produce an abundance of fruit (Luke 8:8). So shall it likewise be for us! It is not enough to be trees in God’s garden receiving from Him all the blessings for our spiritual growth; but we must bear fruit. If we truly abide in Christ, we will inevitably bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).

“Just as a good tree will bear good fruit, so will the tree that is actually planted in the Lord’s garden produce good fruit unto eternal life. Besetting sins are overcome; evil thoughts are not allowed in the mind; evil habits are purged from the soul temple. The tendencies which have been biased in a wrong direction are turned in a right direction. Wrong dispositions and feelings are changed, new principles of action supplied, and there is a new standard of character. Holy tempers and sanctified emotions are now the fruit borne upon the Christian tree. An entire transformation has taken place. This is the work to be wrought” (The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 6, p. 1080).

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age” (Psalm 92:12–14).

Dear youth, as we commence this New Year let us examine ourselves. “Let every one inquire, What is my condition before God? Is Jesus disappointed in me from year to year? Am I a fruitless tree in the Lord’s garden? . . . Consider, oh! consider how many years you have occupied a place in the garden of the Lord, and how little fruit you have borne” (The Review and Herald, January 12, 1886).

It is my wish and prayer that as we benefit from the vital spiritual elements covered here, we may bear much fruit to God’s glory. And when the Lord Jesus will look upon us, He shall not find fruitless trees (Jeremiah 2:21; Matthew 3:10; 15:13; 21:18, 19) but fruitful Christian trees.