Mark 4:13-20

Mark 4:13-20 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop — thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

God is the sower, and He sows an abundance of seed, so much so that it falls onto various types of ground: along the path, rocky places, amongst thorns, and on good soil. God's Word, his seed, is being sown all of the time. Some of his seed is gobbled up by Satan before it germinates. The father of lies tells people along the path that God's Word cannot be true: it is impossible, a myth, a fairy tale; that God is not there; that Jesus is not the Son. Therefore, people along the path carry on with their activities of the world without ever experiencing real life. Some people, who exist on rocky ground, venture from one activity to another without commitment, without a care in the world. They are dabblers, not producers. When they decide to dabble in Christianity, they receive the Word with gladness, for a new thing has come into their lives. They are filled with joy and happiness for a while, but when commitment or a sustaining a walk or roots are needed, they are not there. They walk away, for any trouble, any persecution, will discourage them. They want to GET THE MOST OUT OF LIFE; THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE A LIFE. No good fruit will come from their lives because they will abandon the mission of producing life. Their life in Christ, their fruit, will dry up. Other seed falls in productive soil, but weeds are there also. Their lives are self-centered. The cares of this world and their ambition to succeed in this world stunt their growth. They soon find their hearts are more in this world than in Christ. The things of Christ are crowded out and grow dim. They don't need the church; they don't need the community of believers anymore. They stop praying. They don't receive sustenance from the Word, but from the World. They become unfruitful because doubt and unbelief fill their minds. Sadly to say, they are even in danger of losing their children to the world. Lastly, some seed falls on good soil. The seed germinates in this soil; its roots go down deep within the soil. Troubles, trials, wealth, ambition do not overcome this plant. This plant flourishes throughout life's journey. Each day brings a new challenge, but each challenge is met successfully through faith. This plant produces much fruit, even a hundred times what was sown.

The question is, what kind of life are we living? Are we the unbeliever, the doubter? Are we the rootless plant, the carefree plant, living for today and for nothing else? Are we the plant that is hooked into this world big time? Is it all about me and my plans? Or are we the plant that produces good fruit, fruit that will help others, fruit that will reflect God's goodness and mercy? Yes, seed is sown all of the time. Yes, we receive this seed regardless of where we are. However, no matter what our surroundings are or our particular nature, we are still autonomous beings who have a will and the ability to choose. We can allow the Holy Spirit to soften the soil of our hearts and to bring forth a wonderful harvest of the fruit of the Spirit. We can decide to build our lives on a solid foundation. Jesus uses another parable of building on the rock to explain this concept. We can build on his Word, on him. We can have a life that will exist successfully through every care, every want, every trouble, every wayward thought. We can have a structure that will last. This structure comes through faith in Jesus Christ and his work. THIS STRUCTURE IS BUILT ON THE ROCK--JESUS CHRIST IS THAT ROCK. Therefore, regardless of where you are, lift your head up this day and build your life on Jesus Christ. He will never ever fail you!