Where do you stand?

Where do you stand?

Jesus told this parable,
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  

As he was scattering the seed, 

some fell along the path, 

and the birds came and ate it up.  

Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. 

It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  

But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, 

and they withered because they had no root. 

Other seed fell among thorns, 

which grew up and choked the plants.  

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—

a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  

He who has ears, let him hear.” 

Matthew 13:3-9.

Jesus interprets the parable saying,

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom 

and does not understand it, 

the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. 

This is the seed sown along the path.  

The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places 

is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  

But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. 

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word,

 he quickly falls away. 

The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns 

is the man who hears the word, 

but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, 

making it unfruitful.  

But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil 

is the man who hears the word and understands it. 

He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” 

Matthew 13: 18-23

Here is an illustration I have found to be true in my years as a Christian. The Gospel message about Jesus is being sown, spread throughout our society, our world.
1/ There are those who hear about it but have closed minds they are if you will like the hard packed surface of the road. The message of the gospel is presented but they don’t want to listen to it. They dismiss it without thought.
2/ Then there are those who listen to the message about Jesus and for a brief time believe. They may very quickly become involved in the Church but because they have never bothered to put down roots. To build a strong foundation for their faith. They eventually wander away from the faith.
3/ Then there are those who hear the word of God but their faith is lacking. They let the worries of life and temptations of the world take over their faith. taking them away from God.
4/ Finally there are those who willingly accept the gospel message. Those who are truly looking for spiritual meaning and peace in life.
These people take the word of God to heart. They study the scriptures. They learn all they can about Jesus and God.  They are true believers. Men and women of faith who no matter what happens their faith is not shaken.
My question to you is where do you stand with respect to Jesus, with respect to God?
Please think about it.