We have already taken a brief look at the sower and the seed of Luke 8. Now let us take a look at the soils. There are four soils mentioned in the parable. The first is the trampled soil. In Luke 8:5 Jesus said, "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it." He interprets this in verse 12, "The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved."
The devil is quite crafty and he will snatch away the word in any way that he can. He will trample on you before you ever hear the Word. (kids, worldly music on your car radio, ungodly TV programs, aggravating phone calls, text messages, the rush and hustle and bustle of trying to get to Bible study/worship). He will work on your mind during the teaching of the Word. (Children acting out, Cell phones going off, people getting up and down, coming in and out, and/or leaving early). He will continue to try to snatch the Word away after. There is the immediate roar of small talk the moment the benediction has been announced. There is the critical dissection of the preacher at home around the kitchen table. There is the constant sound of the radio, the constant glow of the television, the constant buzz of the next text message, the constant sound of the ring of the telephone and Satan is steadily trampling the seed and snatching away any seed that might take root in our hearts. Fruitless.
The second type of soil is the rocky soil. Jesus said in Luke 8:6, "And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture." He explained in verse 13, "And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away."
The people who fall into this category come forward when the invitation is given. They say the right words, pray an appropriate prayer, start to attend church, and rejoice in their new family and friends. The truth takes no real root in their hearts however. They never really count the cost…they are unwilling to pay the price of following Christ. Following Christ is costly. Just listen to his words in Luke 14:26-33.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple."
Salvation is all of grace (free of charge) but it will always cost you everything you have and are. Those who are characterized as Rocky, shallow soil are not willing to pay the price. They are not willing to strive to enter the narrow gate. They are unwilling to run the race in such a way as to win. They are unwilling to fight to lay hold of eternal life. Come the first breath of opposition or disagreement and off they go. They professed Christ, but never possessed Christ.
The third soil is the thorny soil. In Luke 8:7 Jesus said, "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it." He explained the meaning in verse 14, "And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.'
This group walks the aisle, goes through the motions, and gets their fire insurance. Then they keep coming to church and living good moral lives. They may even serve in some capacity or go do outreach on Monday nights or even take mission trips. Yet, their hearts are focused on the same things the world pursues. Their lives are spent chasing after prosperity, possessions, and pleasures of the world. Their priorities are the things of the world and they feel like God is happy that they are, at least contributing something to his kingdom. The problem is found isn Matthew 6:24 where Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." The Word that the Lord used to describe this soil literally describes the bustle of an active life and the coming and going of people who are transacting business. In other words, they profess faith in Christ, but then it is business as usual. Did you hear that….literally Jesus is describing people who PROFESS faith in Christ, BUT then it is business as usual. This soil looks an awful lot like American "Christianity." The problem is John wrote in 1 John 2:15-16, Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
Demas could be described as this type of soil. He followed Christ for awhile. He even worked with Paul for awhile. But then he fell away. In 2 Tim 4:10, Paul wrote "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica." That is the definition of this type of soil…more in love with this world than with Christ.
The final soil can be described as the fertile soil. In Luke 8:8 Jesus said, "And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." He explains it in this way, "As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." The question is, not did you respond to the Word, or did you profess Christ, or are you living a good moral life. The question is, Are you bearing fruit? Jesus said in John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. In Luke 6:44 he said, for each tree is known by its own fruit. Are you bearing fruit?
You see, while four soils are identified, there are really only 2 types: good and bad, fruitful and unfruitful. If you are trampled soil…If you are rocky soil…If you are thorny soil….You are bad soil…unfruitful. There is only one soil that is good and fruitful and that is the fertile soil. Which soil are you?
There is one determining factor that separates the fertile soils from the others: perseverance. It is important not only how you begin the Christian experience, but it is equally important to persevere until the end. Faith and hearing are valuable only if those who believe also endure and bring forth fruit. The faith that leads to salvation is a faith that perseveres and bears fruit.
Have you Turned, Trusted, and been transformed? Have you denied yourself, are you taking up your cross daily, and are you following him? Are you striving, running, fighting? Are you walking with God? Are you bearing fruit?
No comments:
Post a Comment