Seeds That Break the Surface

“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God…” – Romans 2:5

Salvation isn’t just a concept—it’s a transformation. Jesus Christ didn’t come to tweak our old nature, He came to remake us through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the miracle of regeneration: the born-again experience where we receive new inward principles that reshape how we live outwardly. Much like planting a seed that slowly breaks the surface, the Spirit begins His work within, guiding us into truth and shaping us to reflect Jesus. As Jesus said in John 3, “You must be born again,” and this rebirth is only possible through the Spirit—the Helper who walks with us, strengthens us, and reminds us of our identity in Christ.

Paul understood this deeply. His letter to the Romans seems almost aimed at unbelievers, and that’s fitting—every congregation has wheat and tares, true believers and counterfeit ones (Matthew 13:24-30). Like a wise gardener, Paul doesn’t yank up the roots but patiently offers truth for all. As disciples, we are called to scatter seeds of truth, even if we don’t always see immediate growth. Isaiah 55 reminds us that God’s Word is like rain and snow—it will water, nourish, and yield fruit in due time. So even in those moments of uncertainty—like when sharing Scripture with a wandering child—our labor is never in vain. Unlikely soil still holds promise.

But with this call comes a sobering truth: God’s Word fulfills all He speaks, including judgment. Romans 2 teaches that what is meant to lead us to repentance can be ignored to our peril. Paul lays out every argument to reveal the universal need for salvation. And as believers, sitting under messages that seem “evangelistic” isn’t redundant—it’s a refresher on what we’ve been saved from and a reminder that others still need to know. Our role? To plant, to pray, and to bid the Spirit do His work. Because when the seed is ready and the soil prepared, the harvest will come.

“Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.” – Psalm 126:5-6