Matthew 13: 1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
At the request of a reader and friend, I was encouraged to write to you in more depth regarding accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and how it SHOULD NOT simply be a checkbox for salvation while continuing to live a life that does not bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
“The Parable of the Sower” is a strong and powerful illustration of the relationship between people throughout history and the truths of God’s Word. In today’s world, there are so many mediums by which we share information, it is safe to say the majority of the planet has at least heard the name Jesus in their own tongue. Unfortunately, it cannot be said that a majority of people have much enthusiasm upon hearing His name. However, this parable is not referring to these people, but rather the individuals who are receptive to God’s Word and initially want to do more. Let’s dig a little deeper on the four groups of people (seeds in the parable) and their relationship & follow-up on accepting God’s word as the truth:
(1) People with No Foundation (verse 19):
Proverb 24: 3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
This Proverb illustrates the very first thing I want to emphasize about what Faith in Jesus Christ should look like. The FOUNDATION of your faith in Jesus Christ must come from an understanding as to why you believe.
Those who have no foundation are the people we see today that say “Yeah, I’m Christian, I was raised in the church.” However, these answers are typically defensive, as they have yet to have anything that resembles a faith that based solely on upbringing or the faith of others. These people totally miss the point that you are not saved by your circumstances. Rather, you are saved by your genuine faith in Jesus Christ and the fruit that naturally comes from the Holy Spirit working in your life. Otherwise, your “faith” has no foundation in God’s truth.
(2) People with Shaky Foundations (verses 20-21):
These people upon hearing God’s truth regarding salvation and are instantly excited because the promise of Heaven and being saved from Hell. However, that joy does not last, because they do not see the living benefits beyond eternal security, and thus return to the life they had before or remain in a stage of stagnant spiritual growth. The reason this is the case is because they allow any worldly trouble or persecution to dictate their life rather than allowing their faith to dictate the troubles that come their way. Do not allow the troubles of this world to allow you to be considered in this group of people from the parable.
(3) People with Competing Foundations (verse 22):
Similar to the previous group, these people upon hearing the word of God allow the idols and promises of wealth and various worries to not allow the word to yield fruit in their life. While they may believe the Word in some fashion, God’s truth is not prioritized about worldly wealth and worries. Once again, God does not want you to fall in this group, or any of the aforementioned groups above.
However, do not fear, for God lays out what needs to be done to ensure the foundation of your Faith in Jesus Christ is solid. Also, be sure to learn from the mistakes of the first three groups and use it to avoid allowing the world and other influences to pull you away from your most precious faith in our Messiah.
(4) People with a Firm Foundation (verse 23):
The characteristics of this group of people are simple when it comes to God’s Word. They hear it, they understand it, and they live it out. If I could nail down three tenants of a genuine faith, it would be those three things.
But, I would add one more thing: they share it. God calls us to make disciples of all nations and fulfill his call to the Great Commission before He returns. I pray that you find yourself in this group. I pray that you will be counted among the righteous when Jesus does return.
I pray that everyone who reads this blog, this post, or anything regarding the decision to accept Jesus Christ will understand that it isn’t just a one time thing. It is just the beginning of an ongoing and amazing transformation of your life into the person God made you to be in Him.
With that, I pray that after you have made the decision to accept Jesus Christ, do everything that you possibly can to grow your faith. Buy a Bible. Find a Church. Engage in fellowship with other believers.
May God bless you and lead you in all things!
Luke 21 Ministries 