18 Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. ~ Matthew 13:18-23ESV
Have you ever tried getting a fish tank ready for some fish? You gotta make sure you wash out the tank, cycle the water, add live plants for oxygen, and set up a filter, pump, thermometer, and heater to keep the water at the right temperature. Then, once the tank is ready, you gotta make sure you pay attention to the kind of fish you buy, or they’ll attack, injure, kill, and eat each other. There’s a lot to getting a fish tank. Much more than people think. And there is a lot to Christianity as well, much more than people think.
Just like it’s not: get a tank, fill it with water and fish, and you’re done; Christianity is not: believe and then say a prayer, and you’re done. Once you believe and say a prayer, now it’s time to get to work. It’s time to work on you. What’s in my life that needs to change? What’s in my life that needs to be rid of? Is my temperature too cold? Am I on fire for God? Are those people in my life bringing me up or bringing me down? Am I stagnant or am I growing? Am I being the Salt of the Earth? Am I being the Light of the World? Am I witnessing? Do those around me know I’m a Christian?
There is so much more to Christianity than belief and a single prayer. And just as the fish will die in a tank that isn’t properly set up, so will a Christian spiritually die if they don’t properly set up their lives for Christ. We have to pray, fast, worship, read our Bibles, study our Bibles, grow in Christ, be transformed by the renewal of our mind, change our environment, and purify our surroundings. We don’t listen to the same music we once did; we don’t watch the same shows we once watched; we don’t remain in the same sin we were once in. We grow. We move forward. We purify ourselves and our surroundings through prayer, fasting, worship, the Scriptures, and change.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Get The Tank Ready.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13ESV