Gardening

In the spring, as we’re planting vegetable gardens, I always think about Christ’s parable of the sower:

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 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. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 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. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Mark 4:3-9 KJV)

To those who study the Bible, this is one of the better examples of why some reject it. Of course, our understanding is made easier because He gave a full explanation:

The sower soweth the word. 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. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 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. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 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. 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. (Mark 4:14-20 KJV)

How is your reception of His word? The first on the list is Satan taking away His words. That’s probably the easiest accomplished. He easily changed Eve’s mind with the simple lie that God is jealous of mankind. Afraid that mankind will learn too much. Tells mankind lies: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3:5 KJV) His biggest lie is that God does not exist.

How about the stony ground? Those seeds that quickly sprouted, began to grow well, but when their roots hit rocks decided to give up instead of seeking deeper soul. Then were offended by His word because they could not retain the faith.

Did they, as well as those among thorns, have the same opportunity as the seed in the good ground? Certainly they couldn’t pick up their roots and move, could they?

Yet – they do. We see plants growing in the most inopportune places, how could they? A tree growing out of what appears to be solid rock. A flower in the most arid dessert. Even salt marshes bring forth fruit.

The roots seek out nourishment, and the plant grows. The same with the word of God as it is sown. Want to grow? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)