13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. ~ Luke 8:13-14
Did you catch that? Those who fell on the rock are those who heard the word and believed it. In other words, they heard the Gospel, and they accepted it. They received their free gift of salvation. They are now a part of Jesus’ sheep, but when things get difficult. They’re being teased for their beliefs. Their friends are treating them differently. They’re being persecuted. Troubles have come because of their conversion to Christianity; they fall away. They return to their old ways. They give up their salvation.
Now, for those who fell among the thorns are those who hear, but they give in to the temptations of the world that continue to call at them, so their fruit never matures. What does that mean? That means they hear, they believe, they get saved, but they don’t withstand temptation long enough for the fruit of the Spirit to grow in them. They are never able to produce Good Fruit as Matthew 7 says those who are saved will produce. In both cases, according to Jesus, some people will hear the word of God, become saved, but will turn from those beliefs and give up salvation because of one thing or another.
Tribulations, temptations, grief, and pain will come in life. It’s up to us not to lose faith. It’s up to us to press in when things get difficult. It’s up to us to press into God and build our relationship with Him. Sure, there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing can remove us from His hands, but we can freely walk away. We can freely choose sin or anger over our relationship with Christ.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Press In Deeper.
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