“The Sower Went Forth to Sow”
19
The Soil—by the Wayside
That with which the parable of the sower chiefly deals is the effect
produced on the growth of the seed by the soil into which it is cast. By
this parable Christ was virtually saying to His hearers, It is not safe
for you to stand as critics of My work, or to indulge disappointment
because it does not meet your ideas. The question of greatest impor-
[44]
tance to you is, How do you treat My message? Upon your reception
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 criticism, or insinuates doubt and
[45]
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.