Easter Lillies Can Grow in the Right Soil

We have all heard the saying at Easter when churches are full that "the Easter Lillies have come out" in reference to people who only go to church at Easter. I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the parable of the soils in Matthew 13:3-9:

Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured them. And others fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. And others fell on good soil, and yielded a crop, some a hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.

The soil illustrates the human heart. The soils in Jesus' parable are the same. The difference in the soils are how they have been conditioned. All the soils could receive the seed, if they were properly prepared. It is the same with human hearts. A person's response to the gospel depends primarily on the preparation of his or her heart. A heart not properly prepared will never bear spiritual fruit.

Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured them. Here our Lord warns that the human heart can be so pounded and beaten down with sin that it becomes completely insensitive to the gospel. This is the heart that knows no repentance, no sorrow over sin, no guilt, and no concern for the things of God. The seed just bounces off the soil and Satan is portrayed as a ravenous bird, hovering over the hard soil, eager to pluck up the seed the moment it lands.

And others fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. This kind of heart is enthusiastic but shallow. It responds positively but not with saving faith. There is no thought involved, no counting the cost. It is quick, emotional, euphoric, instant excitement without any understanding of the actual significance of discipleship. That is not genuine faith. When trials or persecution comes, these people dry up and wither away.

And others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. This represents weedy soil and a heart preoccupied with worldly matters. Do you know people who fit this category? For a while they come to church, identify with the people of God, even show signs of growth. But they never bear spiritual fruit. They are uncommitted and preoccupied with the world's pleasures, money, career, fame, fortune, or the lusts of the flesh. They say they are Christians, but care nothing about a pure life. That is the response of weedy soil. The germinating seed that looks so good will ultimately be overwhelmed by the thorns of worldliness, and eventually the weedy heart will show no evidence that good seed was ever sown. Weedy hearts may be willing to accept Jesus as Savior, but not if it means letting go of the world.

And others fell on good soil, and yielded a crop, some a hundred fold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear. This is the good soil. it is a promise to the discouraged disciples that there is good soil in the field. Let them not be shaken by the people's negative response, Jesus wants us to know that there is a huge field cultivated and ready to receive the seed and it will bear abundant fruit. Of the four soils, only one is good. Only one produces fruit. The good soil pictures the believer. The weedy soil and the shallow soils are the pretenders. The soil by the wayside is an absolute rejector. This parable is the message of the gospel. The sprouting of the seed in the shallow soil and the weedy soil simply means that the Word had been received and begun to operate, not that eternal life had been conferred. Fruit is the ultimate test of true salvation. The proof of salvation is not listening to the Word, or having a quick emotional response to the Word, or even cultivating the Word so that it grows in life. The proof of salvation is fruit, for as Christ said, 'ye, shall know them by their fruits' (Matthew 7:16). As sowers, we are called to broadcast the seed of the unadulterated gospel, even if some of it falls on unprepared soil. There will always be wayside soil, shallow soil, and weedy soil, but there will also always be good soil that will be crops thirty-, sixty-, or a hundredfold. That prepared soil needs only to have the right seed thrown in.

As we arrive upon Easter services, take some time to speak with others and invite them to your service or at your service get to know people who you may not have spoken to in the past. They may need their soil prepared and you can help cultivate their transition to the good soil.