14
Christ’s Object Lessons
new teacher, whose words had so strangely moved their hearts and so
bitterly disappointed their ambitions. The disciples themselves had not
understood the parable, but their interest was awakened. They came to
Jesus privately and asked for an explanation.
This was the desire which Christ wished to arouse, that He might
give them more definite instruction. He explained the parable to them,
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as He will make plain His word to all who seek Him in sincerity of
heart. Those who study the word of God with hearts open to the
enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, will not remain in darkness as to
the meaning of the word. “If any man willeth to do His will,” Christ
said, “he shall know of the teaching whether it be of God, or whether
I speak from Myself.”
John 7:17
, R.V. All who come to Christ for a
clearer knowledge of the truth will receive it. He will unfold to them
the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, and these mysteries will be
understood by the heart that longs to know the truth. A heavenly light
will shine into the soul temple, and will be revealed to others as the
bright shining of a lamp on a dark path.
“The sower went forth to sow” (R.V.). In the East the state of
affairs was so unsettled, and there was so great danger from violence
that the people dwelt chiefly in walled towns, and the husbandmen
went forth daily to their labor outside the walls. So Christ, the heavenly
Sower, went forth to sow. He left His home of security and peace, left
the glory that He had with the Father before the world was, left His
position upon the throne of the universe. He went forth, a suffering,
tempted man; went forth in solitude, to sow in tears, to water with His
blood, the seed of life for a world lost.
His servants in like manner must go forth to sow. When called
to become a sower of the seed of truth, Abraham was bidden, “Get
thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s
house, unto a land that I will show thee.”
Genesis 12:1
. “And he went
out, not knowing whither he went.”
Hebrews 11:8
. So to the apostle
Paul, praying in the temple at Jerusalem, came the message from God,
“Depart; for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
Acts 22:21
.
So those who are called to unite with Christ must leave all, in order
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to follow Him. Old associations must be broken up, plans of life
relinquished, earthly hopes surrendered. In toil and tears, in solitude,
and through sacrifice, must the seed be sown.