A Simple Message

Today, I read a cute story that was sent to me from one of my dear sister in Christ. It was a story about four different churches, each one have the similar problems being infested with squirrels. The Presbyterian church called a meeting and they all agreed not to interfere with the squirrels for they were "predestined" to be in the church. There were two other churches that had problems with squirrels and how they solved it. But the one that caught my eye is this:

"The Baptist church came up with the best and most effective solution. They baptized the squirrels and registered them as members of the church. Now they only see them on Christmas and Easter."

Michelle and I met with a wonderful couple last Sunday for lunch. We talked about alot of things in a short time before one of our daughter's appointment at 1 p.m.. While I was talking with the husband, Michelle talked with the wife. The wife asked Michelle where one of the lady that was recently baptized go. And what about others who were baptized this past year and the year before?? She asked a good question, "I thought, once they were baptized for the forgiveness of sins, they commit their whole life to God. But they aren't "committed" so does that mean that "baptism" isn't effective in changing a person's life?" Michelle explained that it's not the "baptism" that has the power, it's God through His Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Of course, we all must be baptized for the forgiveness of sins according to the Scriptures (Acts 2:36-38; Acts 22:16; Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16). It's the person's heart, it's the individual's responsibility. Satan preys on souls whom recently renewed their life with God; who was recently regenerated and reconciled! Michelle went on to tell her the parable of the Sower. There will be people who received the Word of God, the good news about Jesus, and the realization of their sins and separation from God. But that realization may either last a short time or for eternity! Here's the parable Jesus spoke about to His Disciples and the crowd:

SOWN ALONG THE PATH:
"When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path." Matthew 13:19 (niv)

Jesus referred the "path" as the "hearts" of people. But the path is hard. If you throw a single seed on a hard path, you can clearly see it. This person does not understand the good news we're sharing about Jesus Christ.

I met (and continue to meet) alot of people with this kind of heart. They resist the idea that Jesus is divine. They do not want to be under His control. They don't care. They don't have the time to be a Christian. They may believe in God but they have priorities and are called, "Superficial Christians". You can tell by their lack of interest in talking about the good news we have in Christ! Such a person is nothing but a dead and dry thing!

The next two places are extremely popular in the deaf community and His church!

FELL ON ROCKY PLACES:
"The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. " Matthew 13:20-21 (niv)

We have had alot of people whom have received the Word of God with joy!! Such heart is a wishy-washy one. It lasted only a short time. I have baptized 8 to 10 people in the last 2-3 years and these 8 quickly fell away from God. After countless encouraging emails, they simply fell off the face of the earth. It was because they weren't "rooted" in God when they first believed in Him. They had something else in mind. It was labeled on the rocks that lie in the very foundation of their life. Then trouble came and their roots dried up and their soul withered away. A rock can be identified as such a person who hops from one church to another due to doctrinal issues and the likes. One rock may be a pressure from friends, spouse or co-workers. Another rock may be "doctrinal pains". Another rock may be losing friends. Yet, another rock may be lack of satisfaction. There are many rocks with labels! Forget the rocks. Take it away from the foundation (Jesus) you're standing on. You cannot have both rocks (worry over problems) and Jesus together.

"..so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,.." Ephesians 3:17 (niv)

'..rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.." Colossians 2:7 (niv)

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." Luke 7:23 (niv)

FELL AMONG THE THORNS:
"The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful." Matthew 13:22 (niv)

Another popular problem among God's precious souls are those who worry too much. I had several people who seems to come seeking financial support. After all the support we gave and their lifegiving sacrifice to God, they, once fruitful, became unfruitful. It was after they got all the help from the church (the church cannot always continue to give financial support to all the people in need), then they quickly leave for another church or people seeking financial stability. Such thing chokes God out of their life! They allowed "worry" and "wealth" to be their lord! They sought the wrong ruler.

FELL ON GOOD SOIL:
"But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:23 (niv)

Very few people have excellent soil (hearts). Every night, I go outside to water the grass. I have this "sprinkler" with a sharp stake to put in the ground. It's very hard to push the stake into the ground because alot of my ground is extremely hard. It took me time to locate a good area of soil to fully push the stake in. Since I am unable to see a good soil in the ground from where I stand, God knows who is living their life with a good heart!

This is a very simple message of Christ Jesus, first to His Disciples, the people around him and us! We've had many souls who came to Christ then quickly fell away. Like Peter walking on water toward Jesus, their eyes quickly loses its focus on Christ with a focus on the issues in the world around them. Then they fall prey due to either a hard heart (path), or a "wishy-washy heart" (rocky) or a worry-infested heart (thorns). You know your own heart and where you stand! Listen to God as He speaks to you through the Bible!

"This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus." Revelation 14:12 (niv)