Romans 8:28 is a precious promise to the child of God. It says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God has a plan for your future! He will bring that plan to fruition, yet, that promise is conditional. I must be a child of the King before I can be an heir to the throne!
Here is the message I shared with the graduates of our church last Sunday and a message that all of us need to hear. It begins with a question: “Do I know for certain that I am a Christian—the real deal—a genuine follower of Christ?”
There is a story Jesus told in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel that can help clarify the matter,
1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Christ not only gave us the parable—He explained it:
18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
So, the true child of God is:
ROOTED IN AUTHENTICITY.
They are not like the hardened soil that doesn’t allow the seed of the Gospel to even penetrate. There are a lot of young men and women who are in high school and college that are in that very category. They have dismissed the claims of Christ and find the church irrelevant. They aren’t necessarily hostile to faith—though some are—they just are unconcerned. One would suppose that to be highly unlikely for church kids, but the possibility remains that some might be in church just because their parents made them go and as soon as they walk out of their house, they will walk out of the house of God also, for their heart is hard and rejects truth. Indeed, all the seed of truth sown through their growing up years never penetrated, and Satan, as a malevolent bird, has swooped in and devoured the seed. They are unfazed by it all—a tragic possibility.
NOURISHED IN COMMUNITY.
A true believer, furthermore, is not like the shallow soil that, having emotionally responded, turns from Christ when challenges come and problems arise. Their testimony is tested and found fraudulent. Statistics say that many of our youth are like that. About 8 of 10 upon graduation from high school “graduate” from the church also. There will be challenges that place the young church member’s professed faith in a crucible to prove its reality and quality. In college, it is likely that some professor will deliberately try to undermine faith. Many will find their alleged commitment to Christ withering under such heat. But not all of them will—and the good news is none have to become a casualty of such statistics. Even a few who stray for a time, will eventually return to the flock.
Our spiritual life is nourished in community. You need to remain in a strong community of faith. Some of Pole Creek’s graduates will go to college in the area and can continue to come here and be part of our Singles’ Ministry, while others must find a community of faith where they go off to school. If you can walk away and stay away then you never knew Christ. Consider these sobering words in 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”
CULTIVATED IN REALITY.
One that has a true conversion to faith in Christ, is not like the weed-infested soil that chokes out the potential in the plant. These are the weeds of the world—the pursuit of possessions, pleasure and power. Many graduates will give themselves to pursuing “the American Dream.” Now, there’s nothing wrong with wanting success in life, unless we leave God out—unless we allow the pursuit of the material to choke out the spiritual.
Jesus spoke to this issue many times. Once, talking to a wealthy young aristocrat, the Lord summoned him to turn from a covetous heart and with a committed heart to follow Him. He walked away—choosing the material over the eternal. The sobering question is, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). The world will either conform you to its ways or the Word will transform you to God’s will. The seed will be overcome or the seed will overcome. We live in a real world with real temptations, right where Jesus has us to make a difference.
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. (John 17:14-18)
You won’t make a difference unless you are different. The reality is that you will get on one side or the other. You will be assimilated by the world system or the pressure of truth within you will overcome the pressure of society about you. That brings us to the fourth type of soul soil.
FRUITFUL IN SOCIETY.
The mark of the true child of God is their spiritual fruit—they become like Christ. They hear the Word, understand it and bear fruit—it works powerfully in them. It is true, that there are varying degrees of fruitfulness, but the fact remains that it is impossible to be born-again and be barren. God makes champions that can change their world. He wants you to be one. There are, thankfully, great possibilities among our students.
As to our white-headed folks—the “Greatest Generation” (as Tom Brokaw once called them) they are fading fast—few of them remain alive today. What a legacy they left! My generation didn’t do so well. We consumed the blessings and have become spiritually bankrupt. The consequence is the small number of a younger generation that know Christ. The good news is, however, that those who do, are some of the most committed disciples this world has seen for a long time. The Spirit of God by the Word of God summons us to follow Christ and lead others to Him. Will you—both young and old—hear His voice? Receive the seed of truth and be fruitful and multiply!
No comments:
Post a Comment