We come now to consider the case of the stony ground hearers. In them we have something quite distinct from the wayside class. These latter never exhibit anything approaching to a practical result. The most sanguine evangelist could not think for a moment of reckoning them amongst the fruit of his work. They leave the preaching place as they entered it, unreached, unimpressed, uninterested.
But, on the other hand, many a workman might be deceived by a stony ground hearer, inasmuch as there really seems to be some result, something hopeful, something leading to the conclusion that a divine work has begun in the soul. Let us read the Lord’s own testimony respecting this class of hearer.
“Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth.” There is some “earth”—something soft. It is not all hard rock, or beaten highway. “And forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up they were scorched; and because they had no root they withered away.” (Matt. 13) The words in Mark are almost identical. In Luke we read, “Some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up it withered away, because it lacked moisture.”
Then we have the explanation, in which the divine Teacher informs His disciples fully as to the stony ground hearer. “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
Now here we have something demanding the gravest consideration, on the part of all engaged in the great work of evangelization. Every earnest evangelist longs, and ought to long, for results. Not to do so would argue a heart far removed from the deep throbbing and tender yearnings of the great Evangelist. Every true lover of Christ and of souls must long ardently for the salvation of those to whom he preaches. But then this very longing may lay the workman open to deception as to the result of his work. It may lead to a hasty accrediting of cases which may turn out not to be genuine. How many stony ground hearers have been entered in the returns at the close of gospel services! Yea, how many are reported as converts who do not even afford the measure of promise presented in Matt. 13:2020But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; (Matthew 13:20)!
This is very serious, and should lead all evangelists to wait much on the Lord for wisdom and holy discernment, to enable them to judge the various cases that come before them in the course of their ministry. Some of us may be inordinately eager for present palpable results; that is to say, our motive for seeking cases of conversion under our preaching may not be pure, spiritual, and heavenly. In this way we are tempted to a premature acceptance of cases which are not genuine.
All this must be sedulously guarded against by the Lord’s dear workmen. There are dangers on every side. “We have to watch against the tendency to cast a damper upon any who really desire to flee from the wrath to come and to follow the Lord. We should hold ourselves in readiness to accredit all that we possibly can, and to lend a helping hand to young disciples. It is very sad indeed to find those who have been long in the ways of the Lord casting stumbling-blocks in the way of anxious souls. This, alas! is frequently done by persons with the very best intentions: they are afraid of being deceived, and of deceiving others, by leading them to think themselves converted, when they really are not. They deem it necessary to observe extreme caution in accepting any case as genuine, lest they should sanction a false profession, or commit themselves to a superficial work.
Then, again, there are some who find it exceedingly difficult to accredit any cases of conversion save those with which they themselves have been in some way connected. This is utterly contemptible—wholly unworthy of any one calling himself a Christian or a minister of Christ. We ought ever to exhibit a bright, hopeful, gracious spirit and bearing toward all who seem to be in any way the subjects of a spiritual work; and, even though we may not be able to accredit, we certainly ought not to repulse. We have little idea of the chilling effect produced upon the newly-awakened soul when matured Christians treat them with suspicion, or even indifference.
Still, admitting in the very fullest manner the truth and importance of all that we have been saying, we must not forget the fact that there are stony ground hearers, and further, that they may very easily be mistaken for genuine cases. “He that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it.” This looks very hopeful, and might very readily be reported as a case of blessing at the close of a gospel preaching. Hundreds of such cases, we doubt not, have been reported, and talked about in all our great religious awakenings.
But mark the melancholy sequel: “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” It is well not to be too sanguine. Better far to wait a little. God’s work is sure to manifest itself in due time. Be as earnest as ever you can. Be prayerful. Eschew all indifference; but do not be hasty to accredit mere stony ground hearers.
And if it be asked, How are we to know this particular class? The Lord Himself gives us a very plain mark by which to judge, in the expression, “anon with joy.” It is not by any means a good sign when people receive the word all at once with joy. It argues a lack of that deep exercise of conscience, so essential in the formation of solid christian character. It is a serious thing to have one’s eyes opened to see the true state of his case—to see his guilt, his misery, his danger. It is not a joyous thing to have the whole moral being broken up by the plowshare of conviction. The process of self-judgment and true repentance is not likely to be characterized by joyful feelings. Saul of Tarsus was not very joyful during those three days and nights that followed his conversion.
Ah, no; repentance is a serious matter; and we may rest assured that where the Spirit of God is really at work in a soul—when He is carrying on His great work of conviction, there will be profound exercises of heart and conscience—exercises wholly incompatible with demonstrations of joy. It is not a joyous thing to look in upon a ruined, wretched, guilty self; or back upon a misspent, sinful, rebellious life. Joy and peace are sure to come afterward, but not “anon.” The prodigal did not come tripping back with elastic step to the father’s house. He would, no doubt, be profoundly happy in the father’s bosom; but on his way back, we may say, with confidence, he passed through something very different indeed from “anon with joy.”
In a word, then, stony ground conversions never last. There is no “depth of earth,” and therefore “no root in themselves.” “They lack moisture;” and “wither away.” It is important to have a deep furrow; but this cannot be where there is no depth of earth. If the mere feelings of nature are wrought upon; if there be no deep work of the Spirit of God in the conscience, it will all end in nothing, or worse than nothing. “When tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
Thus much as to the stony ground hearers, who awaken bright hopes in those who are interested in them; but those hopes are speedily blighted by the painful discovery that all is superficial and false. Our Lord’s words respecting this class, as recorded in Mark, are peculiarly solemn and striking. “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root with themselves, and so endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.”
Their abandonment of the word is just as immediate as their reception of it. It has not penetrated into the depths of the soul. The stony substratum—the unbroken material underneath the shallow surface, prevents the precious seed from sinking down into the heart and conscience. The power of the truth is not felt. Its value is not appreciated—not known; and hence the moment they are called into trial for the truth’s sake, they are offended and give it all up, because they do not value it enough to submit to privation or trial on account of it. It is all very well to hear the glad tidings of salvation through the blood of the Lamb—to have the sweet story of God’s free love told out in our ears—to be told of forgiveness flowing freely and fully from the very heart of God, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus—to be assured of God’s willingness to save us from an everlasting hell, and to bestow upon us an exceeding and eternal weight of glory—all this is very beautiful and very blessed; but if it be only received as so much abstract truth into the region of the understanding—if the fallow ground be not thoroughly broken up by the powerful ministry of God the Holy Ghost, then when difficulties, privations, and trials come—when bold and uncompromising decision for Christ would manifestly involve “persecution and afflictions”—in a word, when the reproach of a crucified Christ has, in any measure, to be faced, it becomes apparent that there is no living link between the soul and Christ; no depth, no power, no divine operation in the heart, no stability, no endurance: “These are they which are sown on stony ground.”
Header, it becomes us to ponder these things very deeply. They are most serious. It is impossible to overstate their solemn importance. Let us look well to it that we are not stony ground hearers. Let us see that the precious word of God—the incorruptible seed of the kingdom has found a deep and permanent lodgement in our souls. If ever there was a moment in the history of the professing church when such considerations claimed attention, it is just now, in this day of easy-going shallow profession, when there is so much that is merely “in word and in tongue,” and so deplorably little “in deed and in truth.”
(To be continued, if the Lord will)