TEACHING

Daryl Wood - dawoo@falcon1.net

TRUTH DEMANDS A RESPONSE

Many competing voices vie for our attention. Across the airwaves, the Internet, and billboards, the atmosphere is saturated with much that claims to be truth. Thankfully, in the midst of the pandemonium, the Lord speaks to His people in a way that is unmistakably distinct. In fact, His voice is so clear, and He makes Himself so available to His people that to miss enjoying ongoing communication with Him is nothing short of tragic. Although not widely recognized as being so, the word of God really is prolific.

The heavens declare the glory of God

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

Their line has gone out thorough all the earth,

And their words to the end of the world (Ps. 19: 1-4).

As most would probably agree, any breakdown in communication is completely traceable to our end. Still, a great number of Christians confess to having difficulty discerning the Lord’s voice. What is the key to having the obstacle(s) removed? Is it actually possible to hear from God on a daily, or even, momentary basis? The answer to this need begins as we give due diligence to that which He has already revealed to us. This goes hand-in-hand with the fear of the Lord, for:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov. 1:7, NKJV).

By practicing esteeming and receiving the truth whenever He illuminates our understanding by it, i.e., through fearing Him, we position ourselves to be recipients of even more revelation.

"Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him (Luke 8:18, NKJV)."

The parable of the sower is a picture of the Lord releasing truth, and men responding to it. It is the parable of and about all parables, for Jesus said, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables (Mark 4:13b, NKJV)?" Jesus provides us with the essentials to comprehend it:

As in the case of the parable of the tares that follows this parable, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man (Matt. 13:37b, NKJV)."

Moreover, "The seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11, NKJV)." Matthew’s account further defines it as "the word of the kingdom" in Matthew 13:19.

The descriptions of the various soil conditions refer to differing states of heart. "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience (Luke 8:15, NKJV)." The other two gospel accounts expand on this concept, listing differing degrees of fruitfulness—some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. Likewise, the soils that do not bear any fruit to maturity are portrayed, and the reasons for the failures of each are noted.

The explanation above preceded the warning, "Take heed how you hear." (Or alternatively, "Take heed what you hear [Mark 4:24b, NKJV].") This admonition is accompanied by a critically important principle: Truth, for better or for worse, always changes the hearer. Those who have a heart to lay hold of truth enjoy a momentous increase—both in terms of the revelation they receive and also in a hunger for more. Conversely, those who do not have a heart after truth are darkened upon their exposure to it. In the full-blown sense, this effect is even to the point of causing them to lose what light they seemed to possess in the past. In all cases there is inertia that carries the hearer either forward or backward. Given its tremendous power, it is incumbent upon all to give truth its due, knowing that staying the same is not an option once it comes forth.

Truth, as discussed here, is not an abstract, or merely academic fact. Rather, it commands particular and increasing significance to the extent that it relates to Christ and His kingdom. (For example, apart from some unusual instance involving a deeper issue of the heart, a sports statistic, though perhaps true, would not qualify as an example of "truth" in this context.) Truth, for the sake of this discourse, refers to God and His word—specifically His rhema word (see previous article titled, "What Is the Word of God" for more on this). While all Scripture is inspired by God, specific verses of Scripture are only digestible and are only made flesh within us as they are quickened to us by the Holy Spirit. This is His spoken (rhema) word. Only as the word of God is formed in us does it qualify as revealed truth in this manner.

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth (Jn. 17:17, NKJV)."

The entirety of Your word is truth,

And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever (Ps. 119:160, NKJV).

Truth is in Jesus (Eph 4:21); it isn’t in cold, stale facts that have no power to change lives. Its potency and its precious value require accountability on the part of all who apprehend it. Remaining neutral toward truth is not an option. It must either be embraced or else dismissed, and though appearances might suggest otherwise, neither action is generally performed with nonchalance.

"Does not wisdom cry out,

And understanding lift up her voice?

She takes her stand on the top on the high hill,

Beside the way, where the paths meet.

She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the entrance of the doors;

"To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

O you simple ones, understand prudence,

And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,

And from the opening of my lips will come right things;

For my mouth will speak truth;

Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;

Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.

They are all plain to him who understands,

And right to those who find knowledge.

Receive my instruction, and not silver,

And knowledge rather than choice gold;

For wisdom is better than rubies,

And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her (Prov. 8:1-11, NKJV)."

While this passage is personified in the feminine voice, Christ is the one who calls. His word will not come back to Him void. Whenever truth emerges, opportunity accompanies it. In response to it we are either transformed and made like Him through obedience to His word, or we are hardened in unbelief. Spiritual growth or declension hinges on our choice, beginning at the pivotal moment when the word comes.

Knowing that a great many of the multitudes around Him were ill prepared to latch onto His message concerning the sower, Jesus encrypted His word in a parable. Mercy mandated that He conceal much from the masses, that they might not incur greater judgment.

"Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand (Matt. 13:13, NKJV)."

To His intimate disciples He gave the interpretation of the parable after remarking, "But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Therefore hear the parable of the sower (v. 16-18, NKJV)." These men were good ground for receipt of this word. Their righteous predecessors who desired to see and hear it were not permitted to behold and handle the Word of Life, as were these twelve. The prophets and righteous men of the previous age were "good ground" as well, but in this instance this seed came to the twelve.

In contrast, there are three different but equally inappropriate responses to the word of God.

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside (v.19, NKJV)."

Frequently, and especially with matters of the heart, people do not understand truths because they do not want to understand them. They are already entrenched in a predisposition to reject light, so there is no honest consideration of it when it manifests. Ironically, they may even go through the motions of diligently seeking to understand, all the while wandering around, fumbling blindly in the dark. This condition is analogous to seed falling by the wayside and being immediately devoured by birds.

A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,

But knowledge is easy to him who understands (Prov. 14:6, NKJV).

Two other kinds of soil, while also deficient, actually allow the seed to germinate.

"But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles (v. 20, 21, NKJV)."

Perceiving an immediate self-benefit from the word, some lay hold of it initially, only to discard it later. In a separate passage (Luke 14), Jesus expounded on the merits of counting the cost of discipleship before heading down that trail. If people fail to do this they are easily dissuaded when that same word that brought them such joy in the beginning now results in personal suffering. The "good news" also carries with it its share of news that is not so pleasant. The word of God always brings with it trial, whether through persecution or some other form of testing. The hearer who is not braced for the suffering that he must endure for the word’s sake is "rocky soil" that doesn’t permit the root to penetrate to any depth. This class of individual does not bring forth any fruit, even though the seed sprouts in his life.

"Now he who received seed among thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful (v. 22, NKJV)."

Others, likewise, start well. Not only does the seed sprout, but it even becomes rooted in the soil. However, these individuals indiscriminately receive bad seeds as well as good. These bad seeds represent the worries and cares of this life and a love of wealth and material things, all of which choke out the word of God. Even as the bad seeds grow, blossom, and clearly manifest their nature, persons of this sort will not weed their gardens. Consequently, the only crop that ultimately comes forth from this soil is bad fruit. The word of the kingdom is overrun by the word of the enemy, and these folks prove unfruitful for God’s purposes.

Wherever one falls along the continuum of relative spiritual health or disease is a direct function of his "soil quality." If one’s consuming desire is truly to be like the Lord and pleasing to Him in all respects, then he must be (or become) good soil for the word of the kingdom. It begins with one’s response to the word of God—NOW.

Wisdom calls aloud outside;

She raises her voice in the open squares.

She cries out in the chief concourses,

At the openings of the gates in the city

She speaks her words:

How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

For scorners delight in their scorning,

And fools hate knowledge.

Turn at my reproof;

Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;

I will make my words known to you (Prov. 1: 20-23, NKJV).

"Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts (Heb. 4:7, NKJV)."

Truth demands your (and my) response.