Jump Start # 433
Luke 8:6 “And other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.”
We continue our look at the parable of the sower, which is a look at hearts. Our passage today again shows what happens when seed is broadcast, or thrown out by hand. Some of the seed lands on places that are not conducive for growing. No farmer would intentionally plant in rocky soil.
The image is not a few huge rocks in a field, but multiple small rocks everywhere. Too many to pick up. The field is rocky.
In the explanation, Jesus said this, “And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word, with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away” (13).
Although the results here are the same as in the first soil, the hard walked on road, there are some big differences. In the first soil (heart), the person heard but they never believed. Satan took away the word before it could generate faith. That’s not what we are reading here. In this verse, the rocky soil (heart), the person received the word with joy and became believers. This is the start that the sower looks for. A little sapling pokes it’s head up through the soil. Things are working exactly as they should. The sower rejoices. The believer rejoices. All looks good. It’s a great beginning. Each of us who walk with the Lord, started this way. The word was received in our hearts with great joy and we believed.
The Romans were reminded, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (10:17).
But something terrible happened. This little plant didn’t get taller and taller as it should. The sun beat down upon it, as Matthew’s gospel tells us, and because of all the rocks, the roots couldn’t grow. The hot days caused the little plant to dry up and it withered away. I’ve seen that very thing happen with yards. We lived in a place that had many huge rocks just a few inches below the surface. There was enough soil on top of the buried rocks to grow grass. In the extreme heat, dead spots would appear in the yard. When I dug into them, I found the layer of rock.
There are three lessons I want to share from our withered little plant.
1. Satan is still around. The cause of trouble was “temptation.” That’s Satan’s department. He loves to tempt. Dangle the carrot of immorality, lust, pride or possessions before our eyes, and we can’t seem to look at anything else. This little guy started out fine. By receiving the word and believing the word, he had turned from Satan to Christ. His journey started. Satan wasn’t through with him yet. He returned. Our new Christian got confused, dismayed, disillusioned, disappointed and his faith died. Matthew’s gospel adds two other things here. He states, ‘afflictions and persecutions because of the word.’ That’s a different twist than temptations. Matthew paints a picture of a new Christian who comes home and is excited that he has come to the Lord, obeyed Him in baptism and is worshipping with a wonderful congregation. It’s awesome, expect for those at home who don’t share such joy and excitement. They start picking at his faith. They trash talk the church he belongs to. They mock the Bible. Pressure mounts. The ridicule accelerates until the new Christian crashes. Back to his old ways. Back to his old attitudes. Back to his lost condition. Satan wins. How sad.
2. This passage calls for all of us to have depth. Our faith must be strong and deep. Too much of what happens in many congregations is anything but depth. Shallow, mindless Bible classes where the same things are repeated over and over until everyone’s faith is set to autopilot. Shallow preaching that doesn’t stir the soul. Shallow leadership that is only concerned about the bank account. These things are shameful. Could we be partially at fault for the loss of new Christians? Have we not dug in and helped them grow. We’ve seen them baptized, and then we turn them loose on their own in open fields where they become the prey to wolves. Shame on us. Deepen the faith. Bible studies, fellowship and care is what is needed. Bible classes should be challenging. They ought to be taught to address all needs. Some need milk because they are new and that’s all they can handle. Others need depth, lots of depth. Jesus told the apostles to cast out into the deep and lower their nets. We need to do the same with our thinking and our faith. Classes that rival a masters level college class out to be taught. The Hebrew brethren were illustration of this passage when they were rebuked for not being teachers but needing milk. God’s word is a treasure hidden in the field. We must look for it, dig for it, sweat it out. Gone should be the days when we are spoon fed. Quit asking the preacher what something means, find it yourself! He has everything you have—a Bible. Shallow minds fill pulpits. Shallow minds lead as shepherds. Is it any wonder, the congregation is shallow. Give us deep men and women!
3. Tough things happen to us. This little plant experienced the scorching sun. This little faith experienced temptation, affliction and persecution. Those things happen. They happen to Christians. They are not an indication of failure. They are not a sign that God no longer loves. These things call upon us to hang on to our faith, not give it up. Tough times call for tough faith. This little plant didn’t have it.
Few things hurt more than to see you new Christian quit. Jesus is challenging the audience. Some would believe and follow. Among them, some would later quit. When Jesus stopped giving free meals, some left. When others didn’t like what Jesus said, they left. When they saw the Christ crucified most left.
How about you? Where are you in this story? Got a young and new faith. Grow it. Know someone who is like that? Help them. Facing tough times, toughen up. Lowering your nets? Keep lowering them.
Roger