|
|
|
Later that same
day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, where an immense crowd
soon gathered. He got into a boat, where he sat and taught as the people
listened on the shore. He told many stories such as this one: "A farmer
went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seeds
fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow
soil with underlying rock. The plants sprang up quickly, but they soon wilted
beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow
soil. Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender
blades. But some seeds fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty,
sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. Anyone who is
willing to hear should listen and understand!" His disciples came and asked
him, "Why do you always tell stories when you talk to the people?"
Then he explained to them, "You have been permitted to understand the
secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. To those who are open to
my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance
of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be
taken away from them. That is why I tell these stories, because people see what
I do, but they don't really see. They hear what I say, but they don't really
hear, and they don't understand.
(Matthew 13:1-13 NLV). In the darkest part of the night, a
ship's captain cautiously piloted his warship through the fog-shrouded waters.
With straining eyes he scanned the hazy darkness, searching for dangers lurking
just out of sight. His worst fears were realized when he saw a bright light
straight ahead. It appeared to be a vessel on a collision course with his ship.
To avert disaster he quickly radioed the oncoming vessel. "This is Captain
Jeremiah Smith," his voiced crackled over the radio. "Please alter
your course ten degrees south! Over." To the captain's amazement, the foggy
image did not move. Instead, he heard back on the radio, "Captain Smith.
This is Private Thomas Johnson. Please alter your course ten degrees north!
Over." Appalled at the audacity of the message, the captain shouted back
over the radio, "Private Johnson, this is Captain Smith, and I order you to
immediately alter your course ten degrees south! Over." A second time the
oncoming light did not budge. "With all due respect, Captain Smith,"
came the private's voice again, "I order you to alter your course
immediately ten degrees north! Over." Angered and frustrated that this
impudent sailor would endanger the lives of his men and crew, the captain
growled back over the radio, "Private Johnson. I can have you
court-martialed for this! For the last time, I command you on the authority of
the United States government to alter your course ten degrees to the south! I am
a battleship!" The private's final transmission was chilling: "Captain
Smith, sir. Once again with all due respect, I command you to alter your course
ten degrees to the north! I am a lighthouse!" Many people have come to ignore the authority of God in their lives. Because He has given everyone the freedom to live according to their own choices, some have chosen to ignore His warnings. They “hear but they don’t really hear.” Who are you listening to today concerning your life? There is only one voice that will lead you to safety. Trust in Him. Change your course before it’s too late. |
|
