I would like to have a little talk today with our dear boys and girls about sowing and reaping, or as I sometimes call it, the Word and the work of God. These two are very closely connected. You have all seen the picture of a man sowing seed, and of another bearing home the sheaves.
THE SEED SOWN (Luke 8:55A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. (Luke 8:5)). This is the Word of God. The memory texts, the Bible lessons, the gospel addresses, and all the rest that you hear, are just the sowing of the seed. We sow in hope of reaping, that is, of seeing you saved. The seed is sown in the spring, out in the field, in expectation of seeing the golden grain in the harvest. What a joy to see you saved, to live for Christ on earth, and to praise Him in heaven forever.
THE SEED STOLEN (Luke 8:55A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. (Luke 8:5)). But the seed did not all grow. Why? Some of it was picked up—stolen. It fell on the hard, trodden path at the side of the field, where the ground had not been plowed up, and the birds picked it up. This is what Satan does with the texts and lessons many of you hear. You forget them—they are gone.
THE SEED ON THE ROCK (Luke 8:66And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. (Luke 8:6)). Some seed fell on rocky ground—a thin layer of soft dirt on top, but hard rock underneath. This is like the boy or girl whose feelings get touched when reading or hearing the gospel; but there is no deep conviction of sin in the soul. The conscience is not aroused. Such a one seems to be happy, but is not saved. When reproach comes, he is afraid to be laughed at, or persecuted, and so turns away from Christ.
THE SEED CHOKED (Luke 8:77And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. (Luke 8:7)). Some seed fell among thorns which came up and choked it. The cares, riches and the pleasures of this world “choke” the Word. Often after Sunday school or a gospel meeting, boys talk of football and basketball games on their way home, while girls talk of hats, dolls, parties and so on. Thus the gospel is choked.
THE SEED GROWN (Luke 8:88And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 8:8)). Some of it falls in good ground; some of it grows. Look at the green blade in spring, the plump ear in summer, the golden grain in autumn. Oh how good it is to see boys and girls saved in the springtime of their youth, becoming more and more Christlike as they grow up, and bringing forth fruit even to old age. This is the happy life. There is none like it. May the seed sown today grow and bear fruit in many lives, to the praise of Him who loves us, died for us, and is coming again.
ML 02/07/1965