“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” —Luke 8:15
In Luke 8:5-15 Jesus tells the Parable of the Seeds. In this parable
He contrasts FOUR distinct groups of people and how they respond to the Word
of God, which is the SEED by which we are born-again...
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” —1st Peter 1:23
The Word of God is the precious SEED. I won't
spend time here explaining the first 3 groups; but rather, I want to focus
on the 4th group. It was the final group that Jesus mentioned who pleased
God. This group hadn't been choked by the cares and riches of the world
(Luke 8:14), nor had they fallen away in a time of temptation (Luke 8:13).
It is interesting that the Bible mentions AN HONEST AND GOOD HEART
concerning those believers who preach the Gospel and bear fruit in Christ
Jesus.
Soulwinning is Every believer's Responsibility
Many believers today are ungrateful to God for their salvation. They go to church; but never warn lost sinners of the judgment to come because of sin. America's churches are saturated with dime-a-dozen believers who never do anything more than sit on their blessed assurance. The problem is apostate pastors who fail to teach their congregation to be soulwinners. Every believer has a duty to win souls. Proverb 11:30 states, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” That means believers who don't win souls are fools. If the Bible says it is wise to win souls, then that is what we ought to do. 2nd Corinthians 5:11 warns, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men...” What terror? 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9 states, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction...” God is going to PUNISH the wicked in flaming fire with a vengeance. It is justice!
Sadly, most professed Christians today take the matter of Hell lightly, as if it were a fable or a novelty. If believers were more convinced of the reality of Hell, then there'd be a lot more soulwinning going on in America. Soulwinning is fast-becoming a lost art. We are living in a selfish generation, where believers are no better than the sinful world—divorcing, dressing immodestly, breaking their vows, lying, jealousy, not paying their debts, hatred, cheating people, unkindness, et cetera. It is not surprising to me in this childish generation of spoiled-brats that hardly any Christians go soulwinning anymore. It is because they DON'T have an honest and good heart towards God.
You see, an honest person with a good heart wants to do what is right and reasonable. Since Jesus died on the cross for our sins to redeem us back to God, it is not too much for God to expect us to consecrate our life to serving Jesus. This is exactly what Paul said in Romans 12:1... “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” We are told in 1st Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. God doesn't require us to do anything or give anything in return for the salvation which He has freely provided to us; but He simply asks for us to voluntarily fulfil the Law out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us. It is our reasonable service. It is clear from Luke 8:15 that God desires for every believer to be a soulwinner and bear fruit. If we have an honest and good heart, then we'll want to do the right thing, by becoming soulwinners and telling lost sinners about the Word of Truth that brings salvation.
“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” —Romans 10:15
