When difficult things happen to us in life it usually causes us to ask questions. The bigger the difficulty, the bigger the questions. When life and death things happen, we usually have questions about life and death. Before that point we might never have considered the really big issues in life. But once we are face to face with death and have asked the questions, then we know there must be answers out there, and we become open to suggested answers. Before that point, we didn’t even know there were such questions.
Difficulties cause us to examine life in more detail. They get us thinking about and wrestling with some new subjects. The pain and sorrows often become the very things that help us to grow. They become the fertilizer and the moisture retainers that enable us to grow.
Our text talks about seed dropped on rocky soil, soil that has never broken down enough to retain moisture. There has not been enough friction, freezing and thawing, weather and wear to break it down. Not enough has died and decomposed in the vicinity. There are not enough rotten leftovers to retain moisture.
But notice what happens with the seed dropped on rocky soil. It immediately springs to life. These are often folks who get caught up in the moment and respond to an emotion. They are unable to accept the Word fully. They have no lasting power. They don’t have roots. They can’t weather any dry spells. They haven’t learned how to survive.
They spring to life quickly and fade just as rapidly because they don’t count the cost. They have shallow understanding and short-lived commitment. They have not learned to expend energy to dig deep and expand their roots.
Pain, sorrow, struggles and even death are necessary parts of life. But these are rejected by those who accept our modern society’s world view. We give pills for every type of discomfort. We work to avoid pain and sorrow. We exercise and botox to avoid any signs of aging. We segregate our elderly into “retirement communities” and “assisted living” facilities, so we don’t have to change our lives to face the reality of their death and ours. Our culture screams against these things, but these are essential for a deep spiritual life. Without roots the newly sprouted plant dies and remains fruitless. It never fulfills its design.
These are the fire cracker Christians. There is lots of spark, motion and noise, but soon the fizzle out. They want to win the World, but don’t know how to walk their faith out through the inevitable spiritual dry times. They expend all their energy on what can be seen, and neglect the private spiritual disciplines of prayer and time meditating on the Word.
As soon as someone challenges them, they give up. They don’t have any reserve. They are unlikely to become martyrs. If you want to read about some people who have learned to stand under trial, I want to encourage you to connect up with Voice of the Martyrs. This site shares modern stories of those who are standing under persecution. They have developed the roots necessary to continue even under the harshest of circumstance. They have asked the hard questions and found answers.
The Arnold Journey 