His divine power gives us everything that pertains to life and godliness, for which we owe Him a debt of gratitude. Jesus is the grain of wheat that fell into the ground and bore much fruit. We are also to ripen in the ear and then, as a mature grain of wheat, fall into the ground and die in order to bear fruit for God. As the grain of wheat dies and provides life for the next generation, it actually comes to life again—it lives on in the younger generations. What would be the point of Abraham receiving the promise that his seed would become as numerous as the sand of the sea if his life could not live on in the many? Therefore, those of us who have the life and faith of Abraham are the children of Abraham. The dead grain of wheat no longer lives, yet it lives in “the many.” When the seed is still in the ear or in the bin, it is alone and still alive. It has to die in order to bring forth fruit. But when that which is dead has germinated and left sprouts behind, it has become one of the true fathers, having laid down its life for the harvest to come.

We have to go down into the depths of the earth in order to suffer and die with Christ and thus bear fruit. The resulting fruit that comes up from the ground is nothing less than life out of death. But one doesn’t honor the old grain of wheat for the new life that has come forth. The old grain of wheat is dead and cannot be honored. It sacrificed its life, and with it, its honor and its all; now it only bears fruit. Those who have the faith of Abraham are Abraham’s children. Just as the first grain of wheat fell into the ground and bore fruit, this same process repeats itself from one generation to the next. That’s why Jesus said that the world is the field. Christ is the firstfruits. We read in Isa. 54:7, “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you.” The expression “gather you” suggests several (grains of wheat). “Why are you persecuting Me?” Jesus said to Saul of Tarsus. Here, once again, we see Jesus’ life in the many. Of course it is possible to be saved as a single grain of wheat without suffering and dying, since it is a grain of wheat. But if we are planted in the dark soil with Christ, suffering with Christ and dying with Christ, we shall also be glorified with Christ. Isn’t a father with many obedient children honored and respected more than an old bachelor? And isn’t being a forefather in eternity greater than merely being saved as an individual? “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.”

There isn’t much struggling and striving as the grain of wheat lies in the ground. It only has to lie there quietly and suffer, burst open, and bear fruit in patience. A remarkable process. Surely this must be called selflessness. Therefore, the many will also be granted as a portion to the grain of wheat, because He poured out His soul unto death. Isa. 53:12 [Norw.].

We have just anchored in Molde, and I have been granted shore leave. We passed by Ålesund today; it was a beautiful sight from the water. I spoke on the telephone with Krogsrud in Bergen. I wrote to Br. Plum to tell him that I probably won’t be going to Copenhagen in the fall. God will not put me to shame and make me a fool for the sake of the mammon of this world, but He will give me the power to keep even the rich in their place. The person who has a good reputation is great, and a rich man is powerful, but no one is greater than the one who fears the Lord, for he dares not trust anyone but his God. Therefore, let us pursue the best.

Loving greetings to all of you with Isa. 54:2-6.

Your son and brother,

We will probably come to Marviken on the way back and restock the gunpowder.