Beyond Common Sense

The peas are done, so I pulled them and all the weeds from that area out this morning.  They were planted in the lower section of the garden in the best soil.  As I dug and pulled and felt the rich earth, I wondered what to plant next.  I don’t think I’ve ever done a second planting.  It’s obviously too late for some plants and too hot for others, but the soil is ready and it would be a shame to leave it lie dormant through our short growing season.  (I say short, because we are on top of a mountain which means we lose about two weeks of growing time compared to gardeners just down the “hill.” J)

As I read the parable of the sower this morning, I thought again about the valuable lessons our Lord gave us in that parable.  In fact, Jesus warns his disciples that this parable is paramount: “…know ye not this parable?  And how then will ye know all parables?” (Mark 4:13)  In other words, if you don’t get this one, you’ll never understand the rest!

So where do you and I fit into the scenario?  We’d all like to think that we are “good ground” hearers 100% of the time, but that probably is far from the truth!  Am I a “wayside” hearer – so hardened to God’s word that Satan can easily distract me before the Word has a change to make a difference?  Or am I the “stony ground” hearer – I’m ready to do anything for the Lord.  My hand is up volunteering before my brain is in gear.  God’s message comes across and I make big plans and bigger promises; however, as soon as the “going gets tough,” I’m out of there!  How sad to be the “thorny ground” hearer, but I believe this description fits most of us!  We take in the Word, it even convicts our hearts.  We make a choice to change; however, the change never takes place because the “cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things” came into our lives leaving no room for God’s changing power to take affect.  These things “choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”  Why is this type of ground so “popular?”  Back to the garden for more lessons!  I till the ground at the beginning of the season, so the soil is not hardened after lying fallow all winter.  I plan the garden in a good area, where the soil is rich and deep.  That rules out the “wayside” and “stony ground” difficulties.  But the weeds – they are with us until we reach that great garden in the sky!!!  We all have cares.  Most of us fall prey to wanting more (riches and lusts of other things).  This is where we live – with the weeds!  And they want to choke the godly life right out of us, making us unfruitful.

Just a while ago, I was listening to http://www.abidingradio.org.  If you have not discovered this wonderful treasure of good conservative Christian music, check it out.  The song “I saw Jesus in you” by Ron Hamilton was just on.  It makes me want to cry every time I hear it!  Oh, to hear those words from my Creator, Redeemer and King!  Keep pulling those weeds dear reader!!! Keep close to the Lord.  Keep your heart tender.  Do you think that we will ever regret any decision we make for God when we see Him face to face?  “Boy, I wish I hadn’t gone to church so often!”  or “I really regret memorizing all those verses and trying to live for God!”  Duh!

“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, 4:20