Oh, that we might be prepared for His coming into our hearts. The tracks have been laid, but we resist. We fight back tears, avoiding the question on our souls, continue to fool ourselves and count on religion in place of what He is attempting to do. The furrows, so deep and etched. His word was so clear to us, "In this world, you will have trouble". As if trouble is always a bad thing. We know His love is so deep, so rich that we could never accept it until the soil of our heart was made ready. This takes time. And as the psalmist states in Psalm 91:16 "With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation". What a glorious Savior that keeps believers alive long enough to show them His salvation. Oh, what Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, that will hound me from heaven, if I am His.
How is it that there are 4 soils to plow through? What agony to imagine if we are not the fertile soil. But, this kind of agony brings us to our knees. It now takes John 3:16 to the limit. The blanket statement that many of us were taught, that all men are saved because Christ died on the cross is challenged. Oh, glory that it is challenged. If we only would read the text all around John 3:16, we shutter to see the red letters of Christ state in John 3:3 (much wiser to lean on)--"Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, NO ONE can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." And Jesus our Lord states this 4 times in 5 verses.
You see Jesus was visited by a curious religious person. What a great thing, to be curious for Christ. The heart of Nicodemus was being made ready. The soil was ripe. The matter had not been settled in Nicodemus' heart. Nicodemus sought in the night time a Savior. Jesus was there to answer the questions and challenge this priestly man.
Our Lord is so gracious to wait for us. He sees us examine all of the other claims and understands. He sees us try to ride into heaven on our parent's faith, our creeds and doctrines, our church membership, denomination and affiliation. He sees us hinging everything on a sacrament, altar call or baptism for salvation. He knows us well.
As Oswald Chambers states "No man on earth has any right to be a highroad; every man has the chance of allowing the plow to run through his life." And if this post brings you upset, I will continue with Chamber's words which I totally have experienced myself--The words of our Lord, "Think not that I came to cast peace on the earth: I came not to cast peace, but a sword," are a description of what happens when the Gospel is preached--upset, conviction, concern and confusion. (O. Chambers).
The parable of the soils is found in 3 of the 4 Gospels. The Holy Spirit was so kind when He penned the writers of the Bible to include clear explanations of some of the parables. The disciples at times were very humble to tell Him that they did not understand. Oh, that we would be that humble to tell Him, "I do not understand". He is such a great Savior that if we sit at His feet with humility, He will teach us anything.
Psalm 78:2, written by Asaph states, "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old". Jesus quotes this in Matthew 13:35. Jesus also quotes Isaiah 6:9 in regards to His further words in Matthew 13:14-15, "In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah; You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and I would convert them".
If you are reading this blog post and you are disturbed, would you please let the Gospel today finally take hold of you and crumble you to pieces? There is no salvation apart from Christ Jesus. He is the blood sacrifice for your sin. You have to throw your sin upon Him to be saved. There is no "getting to God" without Jesus Christ for the atonement of your sin. You cannot stand in the presence of God if you are not made pure by His blood. There is no other way. Could you imagine that there is a veil that is keeping you from worshiping Him in spirit and truth? (John 4:24).
You are not alone. All that are born of God once were veiled. He is waiting for you, my friend. Put all claims aside and today, settle the matter. The soil could be made rich and ready today for Him to finally enter in. What if today was the first day you experience eternity? I can tell you, there is no feeling like it in the world. Let that Glorious plow make its final way. Yes, it will be painful. But, yes it will be worth it when you stand before Him someday and He states, "This one is mine".
