Look at the structure of and growth of a flower. First, the calyx or flower cup tightly clasps the enfolding petals, refusing to let go. But the gradually these fingers relax, these folds unclasp and the petals burst open in all the fragrance and beauty. But still the calyx holds them tightly as if it would never let go, but hour by hour, as the flower-life advances, those petals have to be relinquished from the grasp; and in a little while the blossom floats away on the summer winds and seems to perish. "The flowers fall." (Isaiah 40:7), the beauty of nature dies. But observe that after death comes a richer life. Behind the flower, you will notice a seed pod. It also is held for a time by the grasp of another cup. But as the seeds ripen, even they must let go this grasp adn gradually the seed pod relaxes and at length bursts open and the seeds are scattered and sink into the ground and die. But from the burried seed comes forth a new resurrection of plants and trees and flowers and fruits. The whole process id one dying and living, one life giving place to a higher, and all moving steadily on the reproduction of the plant and the stage of fruit bearing.
So marked is this principle in the natural world that botanists tell us that when a flower gives too much attention to the blossom and develops a double flower , which is the most beautiful from the blossom, it becomes barren or fruitless. Nature puts its ban upon self-life even in a flower. It must die and pass away if it would bear much fruit. A beatiful double petunia is no good; but a single-petalled blossom has in it the life of another generation. And so our spiritual life must pass down to deeper deaths and on and up to the higher experiences of life, or we shall lose even what we have. We cannot cling to the sweetest spiritual experiences, the fondest object of our highest joy, without ceasing to grow and ceasing to to bear the fruit which is the very essence of our salvation.
An excerpt from A. B. Simpson's "The Brand of the Cross"
