Luke 8:15 (NLT)
15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Jesus’ parable of the seeds has provided us with lots of reasons that people just do not accept the teaching; stay true to the teaching; or compromise the teaching and fall away. Just looking at the stats, it appears that 3 out of 4 people will eventually reject our message about Jesus Christ. But the picture painted by Jesus is much different. I know that the planting and sowing in the 1st Century was much different than we see in today’s modern agricultural world. However one thing remains constant: the farmer wants to maximize his return, doing whatever possible to reap a bounty crop in the fall. He scatters his seed in throughout the field. The field has been carefully and diligently prepared to receive the seed, germinate the seed and give long lasting nurishment to the seed as it progresses from seed to seedling to growing plant to harvest time. That means adding fertilizer and such to the soil. It means busting up the clods, raking the rocks, disturbing what otherwise was a beautiful field of wild flowers and weeds. And speaking of weeds, the process of removing weeds occurs all season long, with constant care to keep the nourishment of the soil going totally into plant growth.
The occasional seed finds itself falling onto the path–not intentionally, but its there. A very small walkway connecting the fields with the road. It will not prosper there and the farmer gives it no attention. Some seeds find themselves in a rocky area. This is where rocks were piled up perhaps or had not be properly prepared to receive seeds. The farmer knows they are not going to grow to maturity–he let’s them grow, but pays no attention to their needs. Some seeds find themselves living among weeds. They are choked out by competition for nourishment. Again, this was not the good farmers intention, and he ignores those seedlings as well, knowing their demise is imminent.
The farmers concern is for the vast large area, compared to the small paths, rocky corners or weed infested outer area. He wants to make certain as much soil as possible is prepared properly, because other than that–this seed growing to maturity stuff is out of his hands. No amount of cheering, getting on his needs and begging, or beating his chest can make the seed grow. God is giving this miracle the boost needed to grow and mature.
And as the seed is planted (good-hearted people who hear God’s word) and they hold fast (cling to it) and practice patience a large harvest will come. Will it happen over night. Sometimes, but usually it is a slow and steady. One day all you see is dirt and the next week or two–small green dots and before long–you are reaping the harvest.
So we prepare the way–plant the seeds and wait on God to deliver. And I guess while we are waiting–we could plant some more seeds, prepare some more soil to hear God’s word. The simple life of living evangelism in our every day experiences. Letting others see Christ in us.
