SEEDS, PLANTS and SOULS

14 THE TRINITY IN A PLANT

So far, we've looked at the outward appearance of a plant.
 Next we will look at what goes on inside -
the physiology of a plant.

But now,
let's see how a plant can give us an idea
of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity:
one God made up of three persons -
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

There are many ways
of classifying the makeup of a plant.
One is to divide it into three components -
genes; tissues; and water.

Here is why they are distinct.

Genes are the blueprints or instructions
which specify how a plant is made;
how it develops;
what it finally looks like.
Without genes there can be no form or order or life.
They do not exist on their own
and require the vehicle of the plant
for their continued existence and expression.

Tissues give the plant substance -
something solid and visible.
They are made up of cells in which the genes are found.
 Geneticists can only study the genes
or genotype of a plant
by observing the end result -
what we see -
or phenotype of the plant.

Water makes up most of the plant.
By itself it has no form,
but is essential
to give form and growth to the plant tissues.
It is not a permanent part of the plant
but is always going in (via the roots)
and passing out (via the leaves).

Thus the genes, tissues and water
all form the one plant,
and depend on each other to fulfill their function.
The creative role of the genes
is made into substance by the tissues
and given form and life by water.

There is a similarity here with the Trinity.
The Father, our creator;
made flesh in Jesus Christ
and giving us life through the Spirit

This then helps to complete the idea of the spiritual plant.
We had already seen that the actual plant
represents the growth of Christ in our lives,
with the water that gives it life being the Holy Spirit.
 What had not been considered
was where God the Father fitted in.
He is the creator of the spiritual plant, our spiritual genes.

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