HEART SOILS

Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. —Matthew 13:3

Here in New Hampshire the landscape is covered with snow and it is 0 degrees F or about -18 degrees C. There will be no planting of seeds outside today or for some months yet. But when the time comes there is always anticipation of pants growing and producing when seeds are planted. It is wonderful to watch!

So it is in the spiritual realm. When seed, the Word of God, is planted in people’s hearts transformation can take place. But just as when planting seeds the soil has to be prepared so also the heart of a person needs to be ready to receive the seed, the Word of God.

Jesus, Master of Farming and of all vocations, illustrated four types of “heart soil” found in people: footpath soil, shallow rocky soil, thorny soil and fertile soil. Then He explained what each meant. Only one heart soil produced fruit and the rest were fruitless.

What a joy to look over a garden or crop and see it producing abundantly. On the other hand, how sad it is when a garden does not produce. So it is with people. It is sad when the Word of God (the seed) is shared with people (planted) and it does not produce any fruit (not fertile soil). The Word of God is not accepted; the person is not saved from sin, but will die in their sin. That is not good news.

Footpath soil people are those people who hear the Word of God (seed planted); they don’t understand it and Satan snatches it from their heart (takes it from the soil). It produces no fruit in the person’s life. The life is not transformed by the renewing of the mind by God’s Word.

Shallow rocky soil people are those who hear and receive the message (seed planted) with joy. But when problems and persecution comes because of God’s Word, they fall away. It produces no fruit in the person’s life. The life is not transformed by the renewing of the mind by God’s Word.

Thorny soil people are people who hear God’s Word (seed planted), but the worries of life and lure of wealth crowd out the message. It produces no fruit in the person’s life. The life is not transformed by the renewing of the mind by God’s Word.

Fertile soil people are good soil hearts. These people hear and understand God’s Word (seed planted). It produces 30, 60 and even 100 times what had been planted in their hearts.

What type of soil are you and I? Oh, that we would be the fertile soil hearted people who not only hear God’s Word, but understand it and bear much fruit to the glory and honor of God.

Father, please bear much fruit through my life by the Holy Spirit and in Jesus name.