By Alan Dean, Retired Pastor
We are in the time of year when gardeners are planting seeds in their gardens and looking forward to an abundant harvest. The amount and quality of their harvest depends upon how much they have prepared the soil.
Good garden soils require planning, work, and investment. Jesus shared a parable in Luke 8 in which He describes various soils and their ability to produce a harvest. These soils, Jesus says, represent our receptivity to the gospel (the seed being sown).
The first soil mentioned on which seed was sown was on the traveled path. The seed had no chance to sprout before it was run over or snatched up by the birds. This represents people who hear the gospel but pay no heed to it.
The second type of soil was very rocky. The seed sown actually sprouted, but it quickly withered because it had no moisture. This represents those who hear and receive the gospel with joy, but when the first trial or temptation comes, they fall away.
The third type of soil had many weeds and thorns growing there. As the seed began growing, they crowded and choked the new seedling before it had a chance to mature. This represents those who allow the cares, anxieties, and pleasures of this world to take
all their time and attention. Therefore, they never produce ripened fruit either.
But some gospel seed fell on good soil. And, depending on the fertility of the soil, it produced up to 100 times what was planted. This represents people who hear the gospel with a good and noble heart and hold to it faithfully until they produce much fruit (fruit of the Spirit as given in Galatians 5:22,23).
So, let’s analyze our own heart’s soil to see which type represents our receptivity to the gospel. Jesus, the Sower of the seed, is patiently looking for good soil to plant the gospel in each of us.
