Your Heart Is Like Soil

Whenever you read the Bible or hear the Word of God preached, God's Word is like a seed of truth planted in your heart spoil. Some people will read or hear the Word and reject everything they've seen or listened to. Others will read or hear the Word and be interested in it for a time until they are sidetracked by other "important" things in their lives and they forget everything their ears or eyes perceived. They have no further interest. Then there are some who, when they read take note, keep reading, and thirst for more. They continue to read and continue to learn. Have you ever wondered why some people read or hear and want more while others aren't interested or may be interested at first then drift away? The Bible gives us the answer. It has to do with the condition of our hearts. To understand this concept, we first need to consider gardening and seed being planted in soil, to God's SEED/WORD planted in the soil of our hearts.

In gardening, the productivity of seed is directly proportionate to the fertility of the soil it's sown in. Even if the seed is good, if it's planted in unfertile soil, it will either not germinate or it will only produce a sickly, unproductive plant. And so it is with the word of God and human hearts. If the soil of your heart is unfertile, then God's Word will not take root and grow. If the soil of your heart is unfertile yet has a little good soil, the Seed of God's Word might begin to take root but it isn't strong enough to withstand storms of life or other worldly distractions. Only in a fertile, accepting, willing heart will God's Seed germinate, grow, and produce a harvest. The Bible gives examples of different heart soils in the "Parable Of The Sower" (Luke 8:4-15; Matthew 13:1-9; Matthew 13: 18-23). It would be wise to open your Bible today and read the parable. It mentions four kinds of soil:

1) The Wayside (Luke 8:5)
2) Rocky Places (Luke 8:6)
3) The soil in which thorns are abundant (Luke 8:7)
4) Good Soil (Luke 8:8)

Each of these soils represents four kinds of human hearts (Luke 8:12; Luke 8:15; Matthew 13:15; Matthew 13:19). In this parable, The SEED is called "the Word of God" (Luke 8:11). Note that the deficiencies of the first three kinds of soil do not cast a reflection on the innate power of the seed to produce life! The problem is in the soil - NOT in the seed. We should never think of God's Word as being powerless to convert men because the potential to produce new life and change men's hearts is found in the Word of God (refer to Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 1:22-25). Some of you might ask, "Why doesn't the SEED (God's Word) always bring forth an abundant harvest, after all, it's God's Powerful Word." Simply because the "soil" (the mind, the heart of man), is not receptive to it or it is encumbered with the "cares of this world" and the "pleasures of this life" (Matthew 13:22; Luke 8:14). And in those cases, the seed will not produce. I'm pretty sure you can figure out what the cares and or pleasures of this world are without me naming any. In reality, it's anything you choose more important than a relationship with God. That's the bottom line. Priorities, priorities.

We can't blame God for our lack of productivity, as the kind of soil we are has been our choice. Note the word, "received" in Matthew's gospel, specifically chapter 13: 20, 22-23). They RECEIVED the Word, they heard it, but ultimately their heart condition was up to them. Are there requirements of fertile soil (hearts)? Jesus said there is ... Luke 8:15, "They, which in an HONEST and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. I believe there are still human beings with good hearts that want to "hear" the Word of God and "keep it." Thus I write these blogs for those that hunger.
For those that hear the Word, and which seed is planted firmly in fertile soil will produce a harvest of fruits. I'm speaking of Fruits of the Spirit (found in Galatians chapter 5:22-23). There are 9 attributes (fruits) of a person living in accord with the Holy Spirit. Paul used "fruit" to help us understand the product of the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer. The fruits of the Spirit are produced by the Spirit, not by the Christian. In and of ourselves we have no power to love those we once hated, to put others first, to have peace in the midst of chaos, to maintain patience to endure and persevere, to be faithful unto death if or when persecuted, to have self-control over our flesh with an ability to say no regardless of how strong the temptation, etc. I hope you take time to talk with your Father in heaven about the soil of your heart. Ask Him to send His Holy Spirit to soften your heart and make it fertile to accept and plant His Word so that you allow it to take root and produce His fruits in your life.
Until next time,
-Pat-