“Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.”
– Deuteronomy 22:9
Genesis 1:11 reveals that seeds are powerful! Their DNA has been pre-programmed to produce its kind. The amazing process through which a seed grows leaves us to wonder at the creativity of God, our maker.
Just as natural seeds are self-generating, so are the seeds of defilement, which the devil seeks to sow in the life of people daily. When two types of seeds are planted side by side in a garden, one being the good seed will naturally grow into a beautiful plant and the other bad seed will grow into a weed with thorns and noxious leaves, they’ll compete for space and nutrients. At first, the weed may seem small and insignificant, only choking the plant, but over time it grows to cause damage to the good plant.
In the same way, certain seeds we plant in our hearts can start small but eventually grow into something much more harmful and destructive, choking our entire life. These seeds are seeds of defilement, and they’re those initial actions or attitudes that can lead to greater sin and spiritual corruption. This piece will introduce you to what the seeds of defilement are and how you can guide your heart so that you can live victoriously above the target of the devil.
The Planter
“But while men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.”
– Matthew 13:25
Do you know that the devil was the seal of perfection (Ezekiel 28:17), however, he allowed the seeds of defilement—pride to set in. Now, he is daily recruiting people to his side through sin (satan Imparted Nature). Recently, alarming statistics that a soaring number of young people (About 200%) are joining satanic groups in Britain.
The concept of sin dates back to the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us that the devil, in the form of a serpent, tempted Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, and Adam followed her lead, thus disobeying God’s command (Genesis 3:1-7). This act of disobedience introduced evil seeds (sin) into the world that separated humanity from God, birthing long-lasting consequences that have been passed down from generation to generation.
The seeds of defilement, including sexual immorality, idolatry, and other forms of impurity, as well as attitudes such as pride, envy, and selfishness, were planted as a result of humanity’s fall from grace.
Throughout history, the devil has continued to use temptation and deception to lead people into sin. He is referred to as “the tempter” in Matthew 4:3 and “the father of lies” in John 8:44, emphasizing his deceitful tactics. Surveys have shown that a significant percentage of Americans believe in the existence of the devil, with a 2020 poll indicating that 56% of adults in the United States believe that the devil is a real spiritual being influences human lives. Millions of people have been confused and deceived by the devil and his cohort over the past few decades.
Today, we see the devil’s influence in various forms of sin, including the sexualization of culture, the glorification of materialism, and the idolization of self. The devil uses these worldly desires to draw us away from God and toward evil. Unfortunately, we have evolved from a society that believed in the presence of moral absolutes to one that does not.
The Seed
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
– James 1:14-15
Have you ever felt tempted to indulge in something you know is wrong, but convinced yourself that it’s just a small sin, a harmless indulgence? Maybe you’ve told yourself that it’s just a little white lie, a small act of greed, or a momentary lapse in judgment. I’m sure Eve must have said the same thing, “It’s just a fruit.”
The book of James emphasizes the insidious nature of these seeds, and how they can begin with a small desire or thought and grow into something much larger and more destructive. The truth is every act of sin, no matter how small it may seem, can plant a seed of defilement in our hearts. Just as an acorn can grow into a large tree, small acts of disobedience or impurity can grow into larger sins that can leave a tragic mark on our lives. These seeds if not dealt with can grow and spread leading us further away from God’s will for our lives.
Even research supports the idea that certain behaviors such as interpersonal violence, lying, cheating, stealing, etc. can have harmful effects on our mental and emotional health. Additionally, allowing negative attitudes such as envy or bitterness to take root in our hearts can lead to a host of negative emotions and behaviors.
In Mark 7:14-23, Jesus teaches that it is not external things that defile a person, but rather what comes from within the heart. He says, “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, those evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” This passage reminds us that defilement is not just a matter of external actions, but is rooted in the attitudes and desires of our hearts.
Reaping the Harvest
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
– Galatians 6:7-8
Our actions have consequences, and we must be careful about the seeds we plant in our lives. The scripture warns us about the dangers of sowing seeds of defilement. Sometimes the things we do to plant these seeds are so subtly done that we hardly even realize we’re doing it. They quickly become deeply ingrained into our hearts. Even so, there is always a chance that we can purge them and replace them with seeds that will grow to produce righteousness and holiness.
As 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Avoid every kind of evil.” We must be intentional about the thoughts we entertain, the words we speak, and the actions we take, so that we may guard our hearts and live victoriously above the target of the devil.