© 2012 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Once upon a time there was a landlord of great wealth. His lands extended as far as the eye could see in every direction. This powerful landlord gave each of his fields the ability to think, to speak, and to act independently. One of those fields had developed a great distaste for water. Water made it feel wet. Water tended to make all the tiny seeds, which the landlord had planted, sprout roots and grow. This field hated the uncomfortable feeling of the landlord’s growing seeds. Then one day, the field decided to harden its surface so that, when it rained, the water would run off and prevent the landlord’s seeds from growing. There was only one problem. Soon the field was covered with thorns and briars which the landlord did not like. These thorns and briars inhibited the germination of any more of the landlord’s good seed. Though some suggested that better fertilizer should be applied to this thorny patch, the landlord knew that, without water permeating the soil, there was no possibility for good plants to grow. He finally set fire to this thorny patch and turned it into a permanent incinerator for burning garbage and other noxious things he wanted to get out of his sight.

By now you have probably realized that the story above is symbolic of something far more important than a patch of earth. In Hebrews 6:4-8 God says, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Those who only taste the Gospel of Christ, but don’t really drink in the rain of His Word, are like that patch of ground which hardened its surface against the rain of Heaven. While these thorny patch people may enjoy association with the landlord’s true people, they have only contempt for the idea of needing salvation from sin. According to the passage above, once they, with determined finality, reject the Word they have tasted, they have no other hope for salvation. There is only one Savior – Jesus Christ the righteous!

Oh reader! What kind of ground are you? Are you hard and thorny, rejecting the rain of God’s message to you, or do you drink in the rain of God’s wonderful Word and marvel at His glorious and merciful salvation?

 

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