Soft Rocks and Hard Hearts…
09.08.24
With the addition of GPS in most of our phones and cars, it has become easier than ever to drive with our minds on autopilot. As long as I’m following the blue line, I’ll get to my destination. In fact, even if I ignore the line and miss a turn while my head is in the clouds, the GPS will quickly give me a new line to follow. Prior to this, one had to use street signs or landmarks to make their way on their journey. You had to keep your eyes alert to search for the next marker along the way. Now, all you need is to know is where you are and where you want to be, and technology does the rest. But life is not a mindless ride set on one destination; it is a lifelong journey of many decisions that result in many different markers along the way.
The passages that go along with this week’s parable give different angles of the same truth. Obedience is continual. In Luke we read how we are to build our lives on Christ. In John we read how we are to abide (live with) Christ. In Hebrews we read that the message loses power when we are not united by faith (active/collective obedience.) In 1 Corinthians we read about the significance of every act or role, not for our own ambitions, but for the Kingdom God is building. And in James we read how our faith is not valued by what we hear but how we apply truth to our lives.
If we read a bit further in chapter 4 of Hebrews, we see the importance of this humble and continual obedience (working of the soils from the parable.) In verses 3-13 it describes the invitation to enter the “rest” available in God’s Kingdom. The Word says that this presence of God’s Kingdom was “finished since the foundations of the world.” This is described as “good news” that is available for us to enter, but the Word also tells us that some have not entered this place of “rest” because of their disobedience. We also find an important quote from David on obedience, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
What could all this mean? When we put these scriptures together, it presents a picture of God’s will, not as something we need to manifest ourselves, but something God has already established, and invited us into. And the instructions are simple… obedience. Another example of evidence that God’s Kingdom is at hand, whether we choose to participate and receive blessings from it or not, is when Jesus declares that if his closest disciples choose to be silent (disobey) that even “the stones would shout out!
As we see in the parable of the sower, God is continually spreading grace and mercy onto creation. How we experience the blessings of God’s work is dependent on our obedience in our work. Let’s look back at Moses. Moses obediently led God’s people out of captivity and to the Promised Land. But there was one key moment of disobedience on this journey of faithfulness that cost Moses a blessing. God told Moses to command a stone to spring water to quench the thirst of the people. But because Moses was angry and prideful, he took into upon himself to judge the people “Listen you rebels!” and then tried to elevate himself by striking the stone instead of commanding it in the name of the Lord. What happened? The stone still provided water. The stone “cried out” in obedience to God as creation to Creator. But Moses didn’t obey. His eyes were on the destination, but he missed the significance of the marker in that moment. And because of this, God’s will was still done, and the blessings were still poured out, but Moses’ disobedience caused him to miss it.
God’s presence in our lives, God’s goodness that is being produced, is available in every moment. I know during trials or temptations this reality does not feel as real, but God’s promises are true. IF we want to get to that place of “rest” on the foundations of Jesus Christ, we need to confess our moment by moment need for His presence and guidance, and walk in obedience, every step of the way. If we do this, even though it seems like we are being asked for MORE or TOO MUCH, we begin to see that the world is not on our shoulders and God’s loving presence is always at our fingertips. When we trust and obey Jesus, we can find rest in letting go of control and letting the Holy Spirit guide us on our journey. In the words of an old hymn…
“I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; Oh, bless me now, my Savior I come to Thee.”