PLANTING AND PRODUCING

The farmers have planted the seed for this year’s crops as evident by the plants of various kinds now growing. Even we who have gardens annually anticipate the time when we can enjoy working the soil. It is also a wonderful experience to be able to enjoy the vegetables from the garden. There is an age old truth that we would like to bring to your attention once again and that is, you always reap as you have sown. This seems very simple and elementary but it is very profound. In the study of the parable of the sower or soils, as recorded in Luke 8, we learn that Jesus used the common and known to teach spiritual truths to those of sincere and honest hearts (8:10). Jesus said that the seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11). God’s power of salvation today is the gospel of His Son (Romans 1:16). The word never changes. It will always produce after its kind. The soil is also most important because it represents the various kinds of hearts. If there is a failure in reaping, such cannot be blamed on the seed for therein is the God given power to germinate and reproduce. James wrote that we should “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21). Peter declared that we have “been born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (I Peter 1:23). Wherein is the failure to produce? It must be in the soil or the heart of a man. Some hearts are like the hard ground, others like the stony and/or thorny ground. Please notice the following observations. 1. In order for the seed (word) to be effective and produce, the soil (heart) must necessarily be prepared in order to receive the seed (gospel). It is written that Rehoboam did that which was evil “because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord” (II Chronicles 12:14). In contrast, we read of a faithful servant of God: “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). 2. The seed (gospel) must be sown (preached). The seed (word) must be sown (taught). This is the responsibility of the sower (Christian). Jesus commanded His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone (Mark 16:15). The more seed that is sown, the greater the harvest. Are we sowing the seed of the kingdom as we should? 3. The seed (word) will always produce after its kind. In Genesis 1:11,12, we learn that “the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. and God saw that it was good.” This principle is true in the moral and spiritual kingdom. The apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7, 8: “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap, For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Whenever the gospel of Christ is taught and obeyed, only Christians and churches of Jesus Christ are produced. One can be a Christian today just like in the first century by obeying the same gospel of Jesus Christ. When a penitent believer is immersed in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, the Lord adds that person to His church (Acts 2:36-38, 47). The word of God only produces Christians only!