“For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”
An unmistakable miracle in the earth is the germination and growth of seeds. It is simply a matter of burying seed, and waiting. In Mark 4:26-28, Jesus used this principle to illustrate His teaching about the kingdom of God. We read, “And he said, So is the kingdom of God, 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. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” The seed springs up and grows, and the sower doesn’t know how. It is certainly a miracle.
As told in Genesis 7 and 8, the whole earth was once flooded. It was God’s judgment against the evil of mankind. Only Noah and his family survived, along with the animals that the LORD sent to him. Chapter 8 tells about the end of the flood, and Noah, his family, and the animals leaving the ark. In the months before they left, Noah twice released a dove from the ark. On the second time, the dove returned with a olive leaf in its mouth. This was only 47 days after the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. How did that happen?
Pictures of an area that has been hit by a flood show a stark scene; mud everywhere, no vegetation, piles of debris. But, within a short time, plants are growing. Imagine what the earth looked like after the Great Flood. Scripture tells us that the flood was upon the earth one hundred and fifty days. And, that the whole earth was covered with water 20 feet deep. Also, a year passed from the start of the flood until Noah and his family left the ark. Eleven months of water damage from which to recover. By the time the Lord told Noah and his family to leave, the recovery had begun.
In the verse above, Isaiah used the miracle of plants growing from the earth as an analogy for the coming of righteousness to the earth. Just as sure as the growth of seeds in the earth, so is the coming of righteousness and praise. It is certain, inevitable, and inexorable!
That coming day of righteousness is described in Philippians 2:9-11. The significance of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth the first time is described in verses 5-8. Then, the result, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This is the coming day on which Jesus will receive honor from all of mankind, every knee bowing, every tongue calling Him Lord.
Isaiah spoke of this day again in Isaiah 51:6, 7, “My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.” Or, as Peter put it in 2 Peter 3:13, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Great changes are ahead for this planet and the people on it.
Like Isaiah said in the verse above, James 5:7, 8 says, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” John tells it this way in Revelation 11:15, “… The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
It is inevitable like the springing up of plants in the earth. Wait for it! Even so, Come Lord Jesus!
Lift up your heads, pilgrims aweary,
See day’s approach now crimson the sky;
Night shadows flee, and your Belovèd,
Awaited with longing, at last draweth nigh.
Refrain
He is coming again, He is coming again,
The very same Jesus, rejected of men;
He is coming again, He is coming again,
With power and great glory, He is coming again!
Dark was the night, sin warred against us;
Heavy the load of sorrow we bore;
But now we see signs of His coming;
Our hearts glow within us, joy’s cup runneth o’er!
Refrain
O blessèd hope! O blissful promise!
Filling our hearts with rapture divine;
O day of days! Hail Thy appearing!
Thy transcendent glory forever shall shine.
Refrain
Even so, come, precious Lord Jesus;
Creation waits redemption to see;
Caught up in clouds, soon we shall meet Thee;
O blessèd assurance, forever with Thee!
Refrain (Mabel J. Camp)