Have you ever met anyone who seems really cold and distant, untouched by emotions, both positive and negative emotions? They seem to float through social situation without ever really being touched by other’s stories and experiences.
They might be the kind of person who never takes any risks. They live life on the “safe side.” They have “learned that lesson” and won’t be like that again. They like things to feel comfortable, so they don’t do things outside their comfort zone.
In this parable of the soils, Jesus points out that the condition of the soil determines the growth of the seed. Today we look at what happens when God’s Word is heard by someone whose heart is hard. This is the person represented by the path, verses 4 & 15. The characteristic of this soil is that is has been compacted by walking. Life has impacted it in a way that seed can’t penetrate. But even more important the seed remains on the outside and is visible. Unlike the rocky soil, the seed can’t be hidden. The seed becomes easy pickings for the birds.
As I am writing this, I am watching a very small bird attack and eat a small lizard. The lizard is now out in the open with no place to hide. The bird just keeps jumping around and attacking from behind. The lizard doesn’t stand a chance. Even with his mouth wide open, his neck puffed out with its bright colors, the bird just keeps spinning around to his blind side and eating pieces of him.
The path has received no preparation for reception of the seed. It wasn’t tilled or plowed. There has been no effort to break up the hardness. It takes effort to break through someone’s hard heart. But unlike soil, it often takes hardship and kindness to work through that hardness. Often bitterness and anger take over
People with hard hearts are often passive in their spiritual growth. If something comes their direction, and is easy, they will accept it. If it isn’t on the path, in their immediate vicinity, they won’t put forth the effort. They are often shortsighted in life’s pursuits. They are like Lot’s sons-in-law who though Lot was joking when he told them to leave because judgment was coming.
People with hard hearts are often oblivious to the reality of God working right under their noses. They just can’t see God’s reality. They could bump into God on the street and never know it. They are out of touch with what others are going through because all they see is their limited world.
Hearts like this take careful plowing, fertilization, repeated turning over in order to get through the hard layers. Often very difficult things will happen in their lives, and in those moments, they need to reach out, which is the opposite of their usual pattern. They have to admit their hardness and allow the Spirit to soften them. Often the Spirit uses us, the kindness of others, to help prepare them for the seed, God’s Word.
If that doesn’t happen, Satan will surely take the seed away. It is easy pickings. It is as though the Word was never even present. The seed leaves no mark on the path.
The Arnold Journey 