The Seed and Character

Once I had a patch of yard that hadn’t any grass in it for quite some time. I realized that the need for grass was imminent if we wanted this part of the yard to look complete. The owners before us hadn’t really minded this none grassy area as they seemed to have kept their cars there most of the time, but we wanted grass. So one day I set out and prepared the soil for the grass seed. I smoothed it all out and then spread the grass seed over the top just like my Grandpa used to do. I roped off the area so people could see that we were attempting to grow grass now and watered the area as well. After a few days when one would expect to see some little grass quivers coming up I noticed there wasn’t any grass growing yet. I went out to my little area of planting and noticed there was but a few seeds still. Not being a gardener of any real magnitude I simply thought the seeds had gone into the soil, but my neighbor revealed to me this secret. The neighbor revealed to me that every morning when he would get up he noticed the birds would be sitting in this patch of soil plucking away at the ground. He then informed me that perhaps the reason I didn’t have any grass yet was because the birds were eating the seed, and then he asked me if I had slightly raked the seeds into the soil or just scattered them. With a sense of embarrassment I confessed that I had simply scattered them and thought that was all I needed to do. With a smile on his face he replied that in some areas that is sufficient, but where birds are so populated like they are around here with all the trees we need to take that extra step to insure the grass takes. I thanked him for his input and then went to work. I reworked the ground and spread my seed and lightly raked it under the top of the soil. Soon the grass was popping up all over. I was feeling quite joyful of my accomplishment and then I noticed the grass was seemingly turning brown and limply falling over. Soon it was a yellowish color and it was clear that this grass too was not going to be of a qualitative growth. Again my neighbor came out and was again helpful. He asked me if I had cleared the soil of all rocks before planting. See the area used to be used for a driveway so to speak so he knew there could be some rocks in the soil. I again with some embarrassment replied with the all too popular phrase not exactly. He then suggested I did a little deeper and be sure the area was clear of all rocks, as the rocks don’t allow for the grass to take root and that’s probably why the grass looked good for a moment then fell over like it did. Once again I thanked him for his input and began to diligently rework the ground. Would you believe I pulled over two wheel barrows full of rocks out of that ground? I smoothed out the topsoil and replanted once again being sure to slightly cover the seeds and once again with proper watering up came the grass. It was thick beautiful grass. “Eureka”, I exclaimed as I felt so good about success finally. As I was tending to my newly grown beautiful patch of grass the neighbor made his way out and congratulated me on what appeared to be a successful growing season finally. However; Once again the grass began to go limp and turn colors. My heart began to sink as I really felt like I had done all I could this time to make it work. I removed the rocks. I covered the seed. I watered and roped off the area. What next could be the problem with my grass? As I solemnly looked over the area with somewhat of a look of disbelief on my face once again the neighbor came over and offered up some helpful words of comfort. He pointed out the huge trees and the large line of shrubs planted by this patch of grass, which by the way was really a large piece of land of grass. He pointed out that the roots of the trees and the shrubs had dominated the water source in the ground literally sucking all of the water away from the grass system and the grass being in the soil it was in just couldn’t retain enough moisture from the soil to continue to thrive. With defeat in my eyes, I looked to the neighbor and asked what to do next. He suggested a different type of soil that was rich in nutrients and could retain moisture for the things planted in it. He told me it was available at the local reclamation sight and was none more than aged compost. He assured me it would work wonders for my area as he pointed across the way to his finely groomed yard. It was then that he pointed out to me that his entire yard was planted with this type of soil. Once again excitement came over my face. My heart jumped with joy as I finally felt I had the solution and would soon have this nice patch of grass to match the rest of my yard. Momentarily I thought why not do the entire yard with this “super soil”, but the neighbor convinced me my other grass was fine and that wouldn’t be necessary. I quickly ran in and called the reclamation yard to schedule a delivery of my own compost. I went back out to my area and reworked the ground. Soon my compost delivery came and I diligently worked the compost over the area and replanted once again. Soon the spot was filled thicker than ever with grass. You could see a strong vibrant grass and it grew thicker and taller each day. To this day I still have that patch of grass. It has grown so effectively that you no longer can tell where the patch starts and the old yard began. It filled in so nicely the yard looks like one unified body of grass.


Jesus teaches that our spiritual lives are very similar to this pattern. In Mark 4:3-20 Jesus teaches about the soils and planting of seed. So many times when we hear the word of God told to us we are like my patch of grass that as soon as we here it, it is whisked away by Satan as He eats us up telling us all the ways the Word doesn’t apply to us and how we will never measure up to what has been shared. Just like the birds were coming and eating up my seeds, some of us never give God a chance because of outside influences Satan works through.

Sometimes we hear the life changing message of Jesus Christ and we are so exited about it and filled with joy that we run on this emotional high for as long as we can. But then the real world rears its ugly head at us and because we haven’t been involved in this new found way of life very long, we aren’t deeply rooted, we find it easier just to go back to the things we used to do. Similar to the rocks in the soil of my grass patch keeping the blades of grass from going deep caused my grass to die out. If we aren’t deeply rooted in the salvation Jesus offers us by giving Him our full intention with full heartfelt desires to be a Child of His the enemies of this world (the rocks) will surely destroy us spiritually.

Then comes the part where we think we have it made. We are on a roll the grass comes up and it’s looking green. But suddenly in our walk with God we start feeling weak. We notice certain things that weren’t issues with us are now becoming issues. Our sense of trust in the Lord is really coming to a head. Can we truly trust in God? Can we just as the Israelites did believe that God will deliver us from oppression, or will we be like the Israelites when God didn’t act fast enough and turn from God? Will Satan bombard us with enough worry about worldly pleasures that we end up like my grass patch that was sucked dry by the plants around it? This too, if we allow it to happen will be harmful to our spiritual life, just as it was to my grass patch.

Because what we are really hoping and searching for is to be that fertile soil. Like the compost we want to be spiritually one that can not only withstand the attacks from Satan and his helpers, but one that is rooted deeply enough to endure this spiritual battle for the duration. We want to be strong enough to produce more of this same caliber grass or individual. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians to endure, because ours is a prize that last forever. Jesus teaches us in the Gospels to be prepared at all times because the time of His coming is not known. Jesus also told us He would be with always, even up to the time of His return (Great Commission). So what kind of soil are you? What kind of soil would you like to be?

You see the big difference in the types of soil or individuals is based on the heart or character situation. In the first few soils, (path, rocks, thorns) the individual gives way to and returns to their old way of life because their whole conversion experience has been emotionally driven. If you read this in “The Message”, it clearly outlines the use of emotions in these types of soils and it’s the emotions of disbelief, fear and worry that seem to be Satan’s biggest weapons on the new believer. The only firmly planted relationship with God that can withstand the emotional attacks of Satan is the one that gives to God from the heart and develops from one’s own character base and not on an emotional level. Oh sure being saved and accepted into the family of God is and can be very emotional and that is not a bad thing. But when these are truly emotions from the heart and not superficial for the moment feelings, God gets planted deeper into our hearts and lives and we become a force against the battle of spiritual warfare. So again I ask you what kind of soil are you? What kind of soil would you like to be?

The decision is yours.


Blessings to you.