The Quartet Of Human Hearts Series

ONE OF THE MOST ENJOYABLE MUSIC GENRES THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IN MANY CHURCHES THAT I HAVE PASTORED HAS UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN SOUTHERN GOSPEL QUARTETS.

THE FOUR PARTS OF LEAD, TENOR, BARITONE AND BASS HAVE CLAPPED MANY A HAND AND TAPPED THOUSANDS OF TOES TO THE STORIES OF HEAVEN AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS FOR DECADES.

HOWEVER, THERE’S ONE QUARTET THAT ISN’T SO HARMONEOUS AND DOESN’T REALLY SOUND ALL THAT GREAT TOGETHER. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CONDITIONS OF THE HUMAN HEART WHEN IT IS CONFRONTED WITH THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD.

THE MEMBERS OF THIS “QUARTET” ARE: THE WAYSIDE, ROCKY PLACES, THORNS, AND GOOD SOIL.THEREFORE, HOW CAN WE LEARN FROM THE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP TO ENSURE WE REMAIN, SOLO, IN THE REALM OF THE “GOOD SOIL.”

THE PATH OR WAYSIDE IS THE AREA AROUND THE PLANTING GROUND WHERE PEOPLE WALKED. NOTHING COULD GROW BECAUSE THE GROUND WAS TOO HARD. THE SEEDS REMAINED FULLY EXPOSED AND THE BIRDS WOULD SWOOP IN AND CONSUME THEM.

THE SCARY PART OF THIS SITUATION IS THE HARDNESS OF THE GROUND REPRESENTS ONE’S HEART TOWARD THE GOSPEL. THE BIRDS REPRESENT THE WORK OF SATAN TO KEEP BLINDING THEM AND KEEPING THEM FROM HAVING ANY INTEREST IN UNDERSTANDING.

INDIFFERENCE? NO INTEREST? JUST NOT INTERESTED? THERE ARE MANY REASONS PEOPLE SHUT THEMSELVES OFF TO WANTING TO KNOW MORE OR TO KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL. THE GOSPEL IS OPEN TO ALL AND REQUIRES US TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.

WHATEVER THAT IS FOR US, WE ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE. WE CAN’T BLAME SATAN OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT OR LIFE SITUATION FOR OUR LACK OF INTEREST OR RESPONSE. THE REMEDY FOR THIS IS YOU! THE DECISION IS ALL YOUR’S. NO ONE CAN MAKE IT FOR YOU.

NEXT, THERE IS THE ROCKY PLACES OR SHALLOW SOIL. IN THIS GROUND THE SEEDS SPRING UP QUICKLY BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE SOIL, BUT ARE UNABLE TO TAKE ROOT BECAUSE THERE IS NO DEPTH TO THE GROUND AND MANY ROCKS BELOW THE SURFACE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAPPY TO LISTEN TO THE GOSPEL AND ARE INTRIGUED BY THE PROMISES OFFERED. THEY MAY SHOW SIGNS OF GROWTH AND MATURITY FROM LEARNNG THE BASICS OF THE FAITH. SADLY, THAT IS WHERE IT ALL ENDS AND AS FAR AS IT GOES. THEY BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH KNOW ING “JUST ENOUGH.”

THEY DON’T ALLOW GOD’S TRUTH TO WORK DEEPER IN THEIR HEARTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIFE. THEY CAN’T ADVANCE AS THEY AREN’T TRYING VERY HARD TO GROW CLOSER TO GOD.

THE TERM “FALLS AWAY” IN VERSE 21, IMPLIES ‘IS TRIPPED UP’; MEANING IT IS NOT A GRADUAL AND SLOW LOSS OF INTEREST, BUT A COLLAPSE UNDER PRESSURE THAT STEMS FROM BEING SHALLOW AND HAVING NO DEPTH. NO WONDER THEY FALL AWAY AND BECOME BITTER WHEN SORROW, TROUBLE, HARDSHIP AND PERSECUTION HITS.

THE REMEDY FOR THIS IS SANCTIFYING GRACE! WE LET THE HOLY SPIRIT WORK WITHIN US TO REFLECT THE IMAGE OF CHRIST. BY DYING TO SELF AND DEEPENING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WE CAN PLEASE AND SERVE GOD. WE CAN LOVE GOD AND LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES. WE ALSO JOIN WITH THE CHURCH IN ALL IT HAS TO OFFER TO WORSHIP, LEARN, SERVE, SHARE, AND GIVE.

THE FINAL TROUBLED GROUND IS THE THORNY SOIL WHICH DESCRIBES SOIL THAT IS FERTILE – PERHAPS TOO FERTILE, AS THE COMPETING THORNS ARE GROWING AS ABUNDANTLY AS THE GRAIN. THIS SPEAKS OF THOSE WHO RESPOND TO THE WORD AND GROW FOR A WHILE, BUT ARE EVENTUALLY CHOKED AND STOPPED IN THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH BY COMPETITION FROM UNSPIRITUAL THINGS.

IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE WORLDLY INTERESTS, DISTRACTIONS, AND CONFLICTS THAT ROB BELIEVERS OF THEIR TIME WITH GOD AND THE CHURCH. GROWTH IS CHOKED OUT WHEN THE SCHEDULE GETS FULL AND ALL-THINGS FAITH AND CHURCH ARE THE FIRST TO GO TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU CHEAT AND ROB YOURSELF OF VALUABLE GUIDANCE, SUPPORT, AND MENTORSHIP EVERY TIME YOU DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM OTHER BELIEVERS AND THE CHURCH.

THE REMEDY IS MAKING HARD CHOICES TO MASTER OUR DAILY SCHEDULES AND PUT THE THINGS IN THEIR PROPER ORDER AND PRIORITY. WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL AND STOP ALLOWING OUR LIVES TO BECOME ENCHANTED BY AND OVERCROWDED WITH THE BUSYNESS OF THIS WORLD. INVEST YOUR TIME IN ETERNITY.

THE GOOD SOIL WRAPS UP THE PARABLE WHICH DESCRIBES SOIL THAT IS WELL PREPARED, FERTILE, AND WEED-FREE WHICH ALLOWS FOR AN ABUNDANT AND PRODUCTIVE CROP TO GROW. WE NOTICE THAT THESE SEEDS DON’T JUST GROW, BUT BEAR FRUIT! JOHN 15:8, “THIS IS TO MY FATHER’S GLORY, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, SHOWING YOURSELVES TO BE MY DISCIPLES.”

CHRISTIANS WHO ARE GROUNDED IN THE GOOD SOIL OF SANCTIFYING GRACE ARE THOSE WHO HEAR, LISTEN, UNDERSTAND, AND OBEY. WE MUST HAVE MORE THAN AN INTELLECTUAL GRASP OF GOD’S TRUTH. WE MUST ALLOW WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED TO CHANGE US AND TO GROW US INTO A LIVING FAITH AND CHRIST-LIKENESS.