The Parable of the Sower and the Soils
As a large crowd was gathering, and people were flocking to Him from every town, [Jesus] said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Other seed fell on the rock; when it sprang up, it withered, since it lacked moisture. Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. Still other seed fell on good ground; when it sprang up, it produced a crop: 100 times what was sown.” As He said this, He called out, “Anyone who has ears to hear should listen!”
Then His disciples asked Him, “What does this parable mean?” So He said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that, “Looking they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, welcome the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and depart in a time of testing. As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit. (Luke 8:4-15)
Some people “receive Jesus” with great emotion and tearful promises, but it seems Jesus is saying this is not evidence of genuine salvation.
Some people may journey for a time, being “good church people” until they grow weary or get wounded and ultimately walk away. It seems Jesus is saying this “good start” is also not reliable evidence of a true resurrection of heart.
Jesus says the thing the Father desires and the evidence of a genuine faith is “fruit” displayed with faithfulness.
True salvation isn’t revealed by how quickly you turn to Jesus, but by how long you choose to follow Him and faithfully obey.
–Pastor Phillip
