If It Die by T. E. Bowen

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 7, 1903

“If It Die”

By T. E. Bowen

T. E. BOWEN

As Jesus approached the end of his earthly ministry, he one day expressed to those about him a great truth in these words: “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

The death that is hardest to die, the death which means so much in results,—fruit in other people’s lives,—is that daily death-struggle with self of which Paul wrote so forcibly from experience. “I die daily,” said the heroic apostle to the Gentiles. This is the voluntary death that bears much fruitage. The unselfish life, the continual foregoing of pleasures for others’ sake, the forgetfulness of our own lives, this is the death of great value in the sight of Heaven.

“If it die.” This “if” stands for much. Will self yield? Will the stubborn heart give up its life? This is the question. All may die, to spring up into new, eternal life; but, O, how many choose to live, and not die! It must “fall into” the ground, actually be lost out of sight, to increase. Otherwise, it abideth alone. Is it any wonder so little fruit appears to the glory of Christ? So many professed Christians choose to abide alone! We must die to be born again. The life Jesus had with the Father he gave up. He gave it up eternally, and then was born unto us—a Son. Thus must we give up eternally this selfish daily life in the world, and when we do, it becomes possible for us to be born again—becoming sons of God. Many choose to take their eternal death later, but the Christian chooses to die now, eternally giving up the selfish ease and pleasures of earth for the purpose of living for others. “If it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”