None of the four soils addressed in Jesus’ parable of the Sower and the Seed bore abundant and lasting fruit, except the good soil. (Luke 8:11-15) In this article, I want to address the problem and the solution for the rocky soil. “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. Luke 8:13
In this parable, the soil represents a person’s heart. No one wants to have the soil of their heart described as “rocky” and having “no firm root,” however, most of us easily enjoy listening to good sermons and having powerful experiences with God. The rocky soil describes the person who loves God’s words, but does not hold on to those words and revelations when the initial joy is replaced by trials and temptations.
The result is that the words that were received with joy from the Lord, never become an integral part of the person’s life. Those God-encounters never permeated the person’s inner most being to the point of determining how they live.
The rocky soil explains what happens when we admire and enjoy our experience with God, but never come to possess it for ourselves. In other words, we stop short of persevering until God’s truth and work become a solid foundation that directs our thoughts, perceptions and our actions, especially when life is not joyful but painful.
One of the reasons we might remain stuck in the rocky soil or cause other people to remain stuck in the rocky soil, is because we continually seek experiences that are fun and exciting with God, without equally emphasizing the necessity of holding fast and persevering when things are difficult.
From a natural perspective, it is easy to understand why human beings are drawn to the spiritual truths and experiences that bring immediate joy. Just as we can fill our life by going from one distraction to another, preventing the awareness of our own inner world, it can be tempting to go from one spiritual distraction to another, and miss out on the deep, lasting, inner work of God in our lives. Whether in the natural or the spiritual realm this pattern will impede our growth and cause us to miss the fruit that is designed to come through the difficult circumstances of our lives.
There is no way to convert the soil of our heart from the rocky soil to the good soil without going through the process of enduring, persevering and holding on to what we have joyfully experienced from the Lord. Matthew, Mark and Luke all confirm that an abundance of fruit comes only from the good soil, but only Luke describes the qualities of a heart described as good soil.
“But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. Luke 8:15 Do you see the requirements for good soil? The seed, that is, the word of God, the truth and ways of God, must be received into an honest and good heart. The first work is to prepare the soil of our hearts with a love for, and a resolve to live by what is honest and good in our daily life. This first work might also be described as living consistently in God’s truth and love, which causes us to mature and become Christ-like. Eph 4:15
The next steps necessary for the words of God to bear fruit are to “hold it fast” and “persevere.” This repetition of the similar ideas of holding fast and persevering, pinpoint the absolute necessity of tenacity and perseverance in order to create a heart described as good soil.
God has prepared precious and abundant fruit for every one of us to produce and harvest.
Ephesians 2:10
That fruit is the good works God prepared specifically for us from before we were born, for the purpose of building the kingdom of God on earth. Most of that fruit will only be realized through perseverance and endurance. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” John 15:8
If it is the desire of your heart to have your life bear much fruit for the kingdom of God, pray with me and then obey as the Spirit of God leads you. Lord, please give me grace to continually come and receive strength from You, to live my daily life from an honest and good heart, that holds fast and perseveres until I bear the good fruit You have preordained specifically for my life.
Written by: Barry Byrne