ception or rejection of it your eternal destiny depends.
Explaining the seed that fell by the wayside, He said, “When any
one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then
cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in
his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.”
The seed sown by the wayside represents the word of God as it
falls upon the heart of an inattentive hearer. Like the hard-beaten path,
trodden down by the feet of men and beasts, is the heart that becomes
a highway for the world’s traffic, its pleasures and sins. Absorbed
in selfish aims and sinful indulgences, the soul is “hardened through
the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13. The spiritual faculties are
paralyzed. Men hear the word, but understand it not. They do not
discern that it applies to themselves. They do not realize their need or
their danger. They do not perceive the love of Christ, and they pass by
the message of His grace as something that does not concern them.
As the birds are ready to catch up the seed from the wayside,
so Satan is ready to catch away the seeds of divine truth from the
soul. He fears that the word of God may awaken the careless, and
take effect upon the hardened heart. Satan and his angels are in the
assemblies where the gospel is preached. While angels of heaven
endeavor to impress hearts with the word of God, the enemy is on the
alert to make the word of no effect. With an earnestness equaled only
by his malice, he tries to thwart the work of the Spirit of God. While
Christ is drawing the soul by His love, Satan tries to turn away the
attention of the one who is moved to seek the Saviour. He engages
the mind with worldly schemes. He excites
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criticism, or insinuates doubt and unbelief. The speaker’s choice of
language or his manner may not please the hearers, and they dwell
upon these defects. Thus the truth they need, and which God has
graciously sent them, makes no lasting impression.
Satan has many helpers. Many who profess to be Christians are
aiding the tempter to catch away the seeds of truth from other hearts.
Many who listen to the preaching of the word of God make it the
subject of criticism at home. They sit in judgment on the sermon
as they would on the words of a lecturer or a political speaker. The
message that should be regarded as the word of the Lord to them
is dwelt upon with trifling or sarcastic comment. The minister’s
character, motives, and actions, and the conduct of fellow members
of the church, are freely discussed. Severe judgment is pronounced,
gossip or slander repeated, and this in the hearing of the unconverted.
Often these things are spoken by parents
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in the hearing of their own children. Thus are destroyed respect for
God’s messengers, and reverence for their message. And many are
taught to regard lightly God’s word itself.
Thus in the homes of professed Christians many youth are
educated to be infidels. And the parents question why their children
are so little interested in the gospel, and so ready to doubt the truth of
the Bible. They wonder that it is so difficult to reach them with moral
and religious influences. They do not see that their own example has
hardened the hearts of their children. The good seed finds no place to
take root, and Satan catches it away.
In Stony Places
“He that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same is he that
heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root
in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution
ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
The seed sown upon stony ground finds little depth of soil. The
plant springs up quickly, but the root cannot penetrate the rock to
find nutriment to sustain its growth, and it soon perishes. Many who
make a profession of religion are stony-ground hearers. Like the
rock underlying the layer of earth, the selfishness of the natural heart
underlies the soil of their good desires and aspirations. The love of
self is not subdued. They have not seen the exceeding sinfulness of
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sin, and the heart has not been humbled under a sense of its guilt. This
class may be easily convinced, and appear to be bright converts, but
they have only a superficial religion.
It is not because men receive the word immedi