A L M A C I A S

WHAT KIND OF HEARERS ARE WE?

When the Lord was on earth and He went about teaching the Word of God, He found that the people were just like they are today. The Lord found that not all the people respond in the same way toward the Word of God. In fact, we read in John 1:11 that "He came unto his own, and his own received Him not." Why is it that not all people will receive the Word with the same response? In Luke 8:11-15, a parable is related, which reveals some of the reasons that we will not have the same response to the Word from all of those we teach. In this passage of scripture, we read one of the parables that the Lord taught while He was on earth, in which He gives us all a little insight into the hearts of those who hear the Word of God at one time or another.

In this parable, we find the Lord comparing the Word of God to the seed that the sower went out to sow, and which, as he sowed, did not always fall on good soil. Sometimes it would fall by the wayside; sometimes it would fall on thorny ground; and, of course, sometimes it would fall on good soil. The soil in this parable represented the hearts of the people who would hear the Word. By using the example of different soils, the Lord was, in essence, saying that not all people have the same honesty and desire to do that which God has commanded us to do.

As we examine this parable a little closer, we find that there were different reasons that not all of these soils would produce fruit as the good soil did. First of all, we look at the hearts of those people who were represented by the seed that fell by the wayside. Who might these people have been? Very likely, those who listen to the Word of God, but with very little interest; therefore, they never really understand it the way it was meant to be understood. They never try to inquire so as to increase their knowledge of the Word; therefore, their lack of interest causes them to forget the little they did understand. The seed that fell on rocky ground represented the Word of God falling on those that do not allow it to take root; therefore, whenever persecution or trials come their way, they rapidly fall away.

The seed that fell on thorny ground would be those who never allow the Word of God to produce fruit, because these people are too involved with the problems and/or pleasures of this world, or perhaps they have concentrated their energies in making treasures only here on this earth. It was only the seed that fell in good ground that produced much fruit, and that was because it represented the people who are truly honest and are wanting to do the will of God, no matter the cost. What kind of heart do you have?