Faith

---

December 22, 2011 – How’s Your Soil?

20 As for what was sown on the thin (rocky)soil, this is he who hears the Word and at once welcomes and accepts it with joy; 21 Yet it has no real root in him, but is temporary (inconstant, lasts but a little while); and when affliction or trouble or persecution comes on account of the Word, at once he is caused to stumble [he is repelled and begins to distrust and desert Him Whom he ought to trust and obey] and he falls away. – Matthew 13:20-21 AMP

Jesus’ parable of the sower and its explanation are very profound. It perfectly describes everyone who has or ever will hear the Gospel message. Some of the sower’s seeds bear fruit and some do not. But today, I am specifically addressing the seeds sown on rocky soil.

We moved onto a hillside in the mountains of rural America just a couple of years ago. About eight months ago, in early spring, we found a relatively flat area on our farm for a garden. We spent several weeks preparing the soil and getting things ready to plant. But there was one section of our garden with rocky soil. It only amounted to about ten percent of the area, so we made a go of it. I am sure you can guess what happened. That’s right; the rocky section of our garden produced less because the plants had insufficient roots. Christians today, just like that part of our garden, are being grown on rocky soil.
I know most Christians can say that they were full of enthusiasm when they first received Christ. Some of us go after God ninety miles per hour the minute we receive Him. But too many times such people fall flat on their face. Why do they fall? Jesus is very specific about their exploits.

Jesus says His believers fall away many times because of affliction, trouble, or persecution because of the Word. How can the Word afflict someone? It is easy if you think about it. It can happen when Christians read something from the Bible they disagree with. Whether it is about homosexuality, tithing, or righteous living in general, the Word causes people trouble. How do they react? Like Jesus said, they begin to distrust and desert Him Whom they ought to trust and obey.

What’s especially troubling about the whole rocky soil concept is that churches have begun attempts to grow in it as well as believers. Some denominations have begun to allow homosexuals to preach because they have chosen to stand by the world we live in rather than the Word. Some preachers teach about God’s love so much that there is no condemnation of sin from the pulpit. And some churches have become so busy doing things for God that they stumble when trouble arises because they have no idea what God would have them do.

So how are rocky conditions in our soil changed? They are changed through hard work and perseverance. When we plowed our garden up this fall, we began to treat the rocky sections. We have been adding manure, compost, and even ashes from wood that we burn in our home. We even till these areas periodically so they can work their way naturally into the thin soil. Our yield from that part of our garden next spring will be quite different, because the plants will have a better root.

I have to admit that I was a rocky soil Christian for several years. When trouble came, I deserted God. But through prayer, study, and just listening to Him my rocky soil became fertile. Now I’m not professing myself to be perfect by any means, but I am saying that my faith is now deeply rooted and no longer temporary or conditional.

What can you do to till your rocky soil? Remove the rocks. Stop putting conditions on your faith. Stop believing only those parts of the Bible you want to believe. Stop saying things like If God does this, then I will, or I know the Bible says this, but I believe something different. If the Bible says it, it’s true, and it’s there to help. God will not lead you astray or leave you hanging out there in the world alone. And unlike your doctor or lawyer, the Bible does not need a second opinion. If you stand by it and apply it in your life, you will never suffer any kind of persecution that will make you stumble.

Are you planted in rocky soil? Are you continually troubled in your faith? If you decide to stand by Him, stand by His Word, and live an uncompromised life, you will never stumble or fall in your faith. You may even wake up one day and discover that once rocky ground is better than any soil you ever imagined.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE