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In the beginning, God's Word accomplished it's mission. His Word prospered in the thing for which He sent it. God said, “Let there be light.” There was light. His Word brought into existence what He commanded. By the power of His Word, there came to be earth and sky; water and land; fish and birds; sun and moon; plants and animals; and finally, Adam and Eve.
By the end of creation, everything was very good. The earth contained good soil. It produced wonderful crops. Vegetation flourished, and there was plenty of food for Adam and Eve.
But one day, Satan entered the Garden. He spoke false words — words which were full of lies. Satan wanted to take Eve's faith away. He wanted to snatch away what God had sown in her heart. Unfortunately, Eve, out of her own free will, listened to Satan. She ate the forbidden fruit, and Adam also ate.
There is now sin and death. There is now drought and famine which causes plants to whither and die. There are now weeds and thorns which choke out plants. Planting becomes toilsome — especially in this Texas soil. Man will now have to work by the sweat of his brow in order to put food on the table. Life is full of tribulation and hardship.
Furthermore, Satan is still alive and active. Just as a bird will come and devour seeds that fall along the pathway, so the devil comes and snatches the word out of one's heart lest one should believe and be saved.
Dearly beloved, Satan will do everything in his power to take your faith away. He wants you to reject God's Word and to resist the Holy Spirit. Like a wolf, he wants to devour you. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy your faith. He wants to mislead you into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Just as he tempted Eve, he will also tempt you to doubt God's Word and to disobey God's will. 1 Peter 5:8–9 calls us to resist the devil, standing firm in the faith.
In times of temptation, tell Satan that you are a baptized lamb of God. Tell him that your sins are paid for through the blood of Christ. Tell Satan that Christ is your Savior.
We struggle not only against Satan, but also against the temptation of the world. Just as a plant will wither and die in rocky soil, some will hear and believe in the Gospel with joy, but in the time of tribulation or persecution, they fall away. They only joined the church because it was popular. They bubble over with enthusiasm, but there is no substance to their faith. When persecution strikes the church, they deny Christ.
This happened to Judas. He appeared to have believed for a while but fell away at the time of temptation.
Dearly beloved, persevere when people make fun of your faith. In times of tribulation and persecution, look to Christ as your source of strength. Just as moisture keeps the roots of a plant growing deep, the forgiveness of sins announced in absolution, the Gospel preached from this pulpit, and the meal offered at this altar keep your faith strong. Neglect the Word and Sacrament, and faith could wither and die.
We struggle not only against Satan and the world, but also against our own sinful flesh.
Just as a plant will be choked by thorns, some will hear and believe in the Good News of God's love in Christ Jesus, but the cares of the world and riches choke out the life generated by the Gospel.
God has blessed you with many material possessions — a home, car, clothing, and food. These are necessary and important in life. But watch out, the sinful flesh wants you to make the things that you own your idol god. The sinful flesh will attempt to choke out your faith in Christ by means of riches. It will tempt you to be greedy. An obsession with material things is a serious temptation to the Christian.
This happened to the rich young ruler. One day, he asked Jesus what must he do to inherit eternal life. This rich young ruler claimed to have kept all of the Ten Commandments. And so, knowing that riches were his idol god, Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give to the poor. Since the rich young ruler was concerned about worldly wealth, he turned away from Jesus. If he had any faith at all in Jesus, it was choked out by his riches.
And so, the devil, the world, and our sinful nature seek to destroy everything that is good — especially faith in Christ.
I used this parable of the sower and the seed once in a Bible study with residents at a Juvenile Center in Madison, Nebraska. The residents were teenagers who had committed various crimes. I asked them, “What are things in your life that tempt you?” One person said, “Crack houses.” Another said, “Adultery.” Others said, “Drugs, alcohol, and money.” These things were real temptations in their life. These are also real temptations in our life as well. But we could add to this list such things as anger; gambling; immorality on the television, in movies, and on the internet; selfishness. The list could go on and on.
Where we have sinned, Lord, have mercy upon us. May the Holy Spirit always work repentance and faith in the forgiveness of sins.
Our text mentions a fourth type of soil. Some seed fell on good soil and produced a wonderful crop. Jesus compares this good soil to those who heard the word of God, held it fast, and bore fruit with patience.
None of us are good by nature. We all have a heart which is sinful. Jesus is the only one who is truly good.
Just as the rain comes down from heaven and waters the earth, so Jesus came down from heaven. He is the “seed of the woman” promised to Adam and Eve. Jesus is the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us.
During Jesus' ministry, He withstood the temptations of the devil three times and countered each temptation with the Word of God.
During Jesus' ministry, His Word accomplished its mission. His Word prospered in the thing for which He sent it. When Jesus told the lame man to pick up his bed and walk, a miracle happened. The lame man was able to stand up and walk. When Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth.” This Word brought life into Lazarus, and he came alive.
Yes, Jesus Himself heard the Word from His father in heaven and was perfectly obedient to Him in every way. Jesus was obedient to the point of death — even death upon the cross for your sins and mine. While Jesus was on the cross, many tempted Him to come down. But Jesus overcame these temptations of the world and remained there out of love for you and me.
Just as a seed first dies and then is planted in the earth, so Jesus died and was buried.
Just as a seed sprouts and grows to produce a wonderful crop, so Jesus rose from the dead and now bears much fruit. We are the produce of His work.
Just as the rain comes down from heaven and does not return without accomplishing its mission, so Jesus came down from heaven, died upon the cross, rose from the dead, and 40 days later, returned to heaven. Jesus did not return to heaven empty handed. Jesus — the Word made flesh — accomplished His mission. He succeeded in the thing for which He was sent. He ascended to heaven having won victory over our enemies: sin, death, and the devil.
God's Word was powerful during the time of creation. God's Word was also powerful during the life and ministry of Jesus. And God's Word is still powerful today. It accomplishes its mission. It prospers in the thing for which it was sent.
Dearly beloved, God's word, connected to water, brought you life and salvation. God's Word entered your ear and took root. As you hear the Gospel proclaimed and taught, it strengthens your faith in Christ.
God makes you into good soil. He removes the rock, the thorns, and the weeds in your life. He forgives your sin. He made you into good soil which bears an abundant crop — some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundredfold. Out your life of repentance and faith comes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness for the sake of the neighbor. Jesus bears much fruit through you for the sake of the one in need.
This morning, we will partake of the fruits of wheat and wine. God's word will be connected to these elements, and there will also be our Lord's true body and blood. Here, at this altar, our sin will be removed. This meal will strengthen us to love one another.
There will be a day when all of us will die and be buried — planted, if you will — in the earth. Martin Luther once called the cemetery “God's acre.” He says, “The cemetery is a field full of God's kernels which some day will blossom and grow more beautifully than can be imagined.” On the last day, the dead will rise. The soul will be rejoined to the body. And all believers in Christ will wear, so to speak, a new outfit that is incorruptible and immortal. Our bodies will be transformed, and we will enjoy eternal life in heaven.
But until that day comes, may God's Word give you the strength to persevere in the midst of trial and tribulation. May God's Word be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. May we continually hear God's word, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patience. Amen.
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