PLANTING SEEDS (Part 2)
Last time I wrote truisms concerning planting seeds.
1) The seeds you plant will be the SAME ones you receive at harvest!
2) The seeds you receive will be GREATER in NUMBER than what you planted!
3) Your harvest will be LATER than when you planted!
Jesus taught His disciples about this, only He taught in parables because many didn't understand the spiritual application!
Mark 4:3-9 "Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
The disciples asked Jesus about the meaning of this parable as it applied to their lives! Jesus answered:
Mark 4:14-20 "The sower soweth the word. 15. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."
Here I see four different types of people! The first two are not receptive to the gospel, or the life about Jesus Christ. Briefly these first first two rejected that Jesus died for payment of their eternal sins, that He was buried but three days later He arose from the dead according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Those birds represent the devil stealing away the truth which was heard. Those listeners of the word didn't believe or didn't care to receive the gospel of Jesus!
The second group also heard, and tried it out, but as the gospel of Jesus didn't fit their plans for their lives, they rejected it much as the first group.
The third group received the gospel and took it to heart, but we're so involved with the world that their lives had no spiritual growth productivity. The world choked out their potential witness for Christ even though they WERE saved!
The last group is the the most blessed of the four because the ways of the LORD outweighed the vain things the world offered to them. They realized that eternal riches far outweigh those worldly things represented by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life!
This last group, because of their faithfulness and appreciation for what Jesus Christ had done for their eternal security, chose to believe the gospel and live for Him and follow His rules and laws which are beneficial to healthy living, a long life, and a good testimony as a representative of God whom they serve!
Jesus has commanded us:
Mark 16:15-16 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
"Damned" means spending eternity by burning in darkness forever without any hope for escape!
If you are not a member of this last group of people, it's not too late to change!
Admit to God that you're a sinner in need of the Saviour. Believe the gospel, that Jesus Christ died on the cross paying for your sins. Then He arose from the dead according to the scriptures, proving that He was God.
Then, live for Jesus!
There's no greater joy that can be had than living for the Saviour!
After all, Jesus gave His live so that you could have an eternal one!
