How is your heart of faith? (Part 2)
TEMPORARY HEART
TEMPORARY HEART
This time, the seed is thrown upon rocky soil, when initially a plant will spring up and shine vibrantly. Since this is rocky soil lacking nourishment, there are no root systems established for the plant to sustain life. For these people who hear the Word, they are joyful and excited about the good news of Jesus, but for the fact that worldly pleasures are hard to let go of and give up to God, this belief is very shallow. The belief is very surface and merely a fad that will dissipate overtime as the hardships of life spring up around them. To think being a Christian will solve your biggest problems, is a mistake, in fact the Christian life is usually harder, ultimately more rewarding, which is a long term goal, that this type of heart can't wait for. Continuing in Matthew's gospel, as Christians we need encourage day-to-day from each other, and if you believed at one time, you can't always do it alone. A praying life shouldn't be a private life, for the praying could be prey to the evil one.
Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
Luke 8:13
Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
1 Timothy 4:1
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Hebrews 3:12-14
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
Did you go to church with family or a friend and feel excitement? The vibrant worship songs and the friendliness of other believers struck a chord in your heart, but now you are stepping out of the way? You enjoyed the "church life" and the "clean fun" but you find it hard to stick with it because it's not familiar and it's more comfortable to live life like you always have. God knows your heart, He knows your thoughts, and He loves you just the same! If you know the Truth of Jesus Christ, God knows you as His child. Don't be afraid to let go of something in your "worldly" life because in your "spiritual" life there is an entire population to stand with you, to befriend you and to love you. The place in God's heart is never given away to someone else who stayed on the path and didn't stray. He would leave His whole flock to find the one lost sheep, and be overjoyed to bring the one sheep home again.
