As I type this I am on HWY 101 in California. This is my first time in Cali and I have to say that I think I could live here. I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the desert like mountains (some might call them hills but I am from FL so they look like mountains to me) that are right next the beautiful coast. This is definitely one of those moments when you wonder how people can think that there isn’t a God. God’s hand is all over the place and I am thankful for these moments when I am reminded of that.
I am in the middle of reading a book by Francis Chan called “Crazy Love” and I have to admit that it is really kicking my butt. Francis Chan is one of those guys who challenge you to step up and live out the things we say we believe. Early in the book he talks about the parable of the sower and the seed and says something that no one has ever said to me, he says “Let me warn you, do not assume you are good soil”. In the parable there is a farmer is throwing seed for harvest. Jesus compares our hearts to the different types of soil the seed landed on and the seed itself is the word of God. Jesus explains that the seed that fell on the path is heard but quickly stolen away, the seed that fell among the rocks has the appearance of growth and depth because of the good soil beneath the rocks but because of the rocks the seed has no roots, Some of the seeds fell amongst thorns and could not grow because the seed was eventually choked out by the thorns, lastly some of the seed landed on good soil and was able to grow, take root, and produce fruit. Those of us who call ourselves believers like to think that we are in the “good soil” category. In this book Francis challenges that thought.
He thinks that most American churchgoers fall in the “Thorny ground” category because of all the distractions in our lives that choke our relationship with the Lord. Thorns can be anything; money, video games, music, school, work, and even acts of service. All these things can be distractions that end up keeping us from having the relationship we want to have with the Lord. I think that if we are honest with ourselves, we all have distractions we have let creep in that are “choking” the seeds that God has planted. My prayer is that, as a body of believers, we will stop assuming that we are the “good soil” and start making steps to get rid of the distractions and fall in love with our Creator once again.
-Mike