This is either the height of arrogance, or the wisdom of simplicity. In the course of four page-long installments, we’ve purported to address the essence of life, in order of priority.
Do these things, and everything else you do in life will come under one or more of these headers. Miss these things – any of them – and your experience over + 100 years will have deficiencies that are either debilitating – forever – or their absence will diminish the quality of your life.
First and foremost: Find your God. Next in importance: Find your Spouse (who follows the same Savior). Third on the list: Find your Partners (friends whose faith mirrors yours). Today’s last emphasis: Find your Calling.
If you’ve been around me for any length of time, this theme has come into play. I’ve been serious in studying the Bible for over 50 years; I’ve been teaching from the Bible for over 40 years. Over that time, I’ve discovered that it’s possible to teach and to study the Scriptures and miss the most prominent truths that are revealed within it.
Jesus cautioned that hearing the message about the Kingdom of God puts the responsibility on the recipient: “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Jesus, in Matthew 13).
God’s truth makes no difference to most who hear it. Seed on the path; seed spread on rocky ground: neither results in any lasting impact. The third test is widely recurrent: the potential of the life found in the truth of the message is compromised by the despair of worry or the delusion of wealth.
Jesus minces no words: only one condition evokes confidence in the life of faith. Hearing and understanding are more than an intellectual accomplishment: to pass the ultimate test, producing results that matter to God is the only outcome that will qualify for commendation at the evaluation that marks the end of earth life and the commencement of the eternal Kingdom.
Why aspire to 100x returns? “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). According to Paul, people with 3rd Soil thorns die with faith, but warrant no reward. People who lived as 4th soil producers making choices marked as valuable by God – likened by him to gold, silver and jewels – would receive a reward at the end of their lifetime.
If your Bible was a modern online document, the word reward would offer a hyperlink into connected teachings that run from the Gospels to the Revelation. Far more than a pat on the back or a star on your term paper, the recognition offered for the significant service rendered on behalf of Heaven in the midst of the challenges on Earth are beyond our limited imagination.
How far along are you? Until these four foundational realities are operative in your life, you’ll never rise to the greatness for which God created you. Is there room for progress for you, today?
