Good Ground- Second Sunday before Lent

 Good Ground

Good Ground  Luke 8:4-15   Second Sunday before Lent

  In the movie " Gettysburg" there is a haunting scene where the Commander of the Southern forces, Robert E. Lee, looks at how the armies have run into each other at Gettysburg and says to Longstreet, the commander of one his divisions, " I pray this is good ground."  There is a hope that even though he did not plan running into the Union Army under General George Meade, it will be good ground for "his boys."  Too many had already died.

    That line from the movie " Gettysburg" reminded me of the Scripture from Luke 8, " And that in the good ground, there are they who in a heart right and good having heard the word keep it and bring forth fruit with endurance." vs 15  The other kinds of hearts are also mentioned. The seed is the Word of God, sown by the sower.

1.  Some fell by the wayside; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.  vs. 5  These the parable says are " they that hear; then cometh the devil , and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." vs. 11  In other words, many hear the Word, but that is not enough. It is a seed that never takes root in the heart, because it never enters the understanding. HEARING IS NOT BELIEVING.  Also we note the existence of evil is affirmed and made real in this parable.  NOT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING IS HERE TO " HELP" US.  The Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy said this about the faith, "  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing NOTHING." 6:3

How do we hear the Word of God?  The Apostle lists for Timothy some of the distractions, " strifes of words whereof cometh envy, strife, railings (evil speakings), evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and DESTITUTE OF THE TRUTH , supposing that gain is godliness : from such withdraw thyself..." 6:4

2.  " And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture."  " They on the rock are they which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, while for a time believe, and in time of temptation fall away..."

NOT ONCE BELIEVED, BUT TRULY BELIEVED IS THE KEY .

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." I John 2

3.  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

" And that which fell among the thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."

Cares, and riches and pleasures of this life according to Matthew 6 ---" Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

" Which of you be taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"

4. Lastly, back to our first thought .  GOOD GROUND

" But they on the good ground are they , which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

" I PRAY THIS IS GOOD GROUND" , said the General.

I pray having heard this parable, we see where we are weak and tempted, and having heard the word, bring with it an honest and good heart, keeping the Word and its directions, and bring forth fruit with endurance and patience.

This pre-lenten season is a time of reflection, measurement of our actions and hearts by the infallible and inerrant Word, the Seed of the Heavenly Sower.

 ----In conclusion , I came across this which encouraged me.

" Three sorts of ground were disappointing; the wayside, trampled; the rock, no depth of earth; the thorns, choking.  Are they all quite hopeless? .....' Oh no, that kind of soil is not ultimately necessarily hopeless.  The fallow ground can be broken up; the rock can be shattered; the thorns can be uprooted; the desert may blossom as the rose.' DR. Burton of England.  ...The appeal of the Gospel is an appeal that we are called upon to make to all sorts and conditions of souls; and we may ever do it in hope, as well as in faith, and in love."  Dr. G. Campbell Morgan. Luke