The Parable

“And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” (Luke 8: 9-10)

 

Firstly we need to understand what a parable is, it is allegory to get a point across and it the case of the Christian to give them insight into a truth that the unbeliever will miss, when exposed to the same story. Ingenious if you ask me, God is phenomenal in the way He weaves His brilliance into society. This is why we need to be born again, the time where we receive His Spirit to see and understand correctly. It unlocks the secrets of heaven. Think on it like this, a 3D movie need 3D glasses to clasp the full experience, so too everyone who claims to be a Christian, must be born again, traditional Christianity, those born into Christian organisations from birth, those who are Sunday church goers, cannot rely on their parents teaching to get them you heaven, or to rely on our christening as a baby, we all need to be born of the Spirit to see and understand Spiritual truths; “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” – There needs to be a precise event in their lives when this happens, it must be an undeniable experience.  

 

As the walls close in, I am reminded that we who belong to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are a people with great hope attached to our faith. And it is crucial that we are constantly reminded of this hope, for without it we will perish, no differently to a seed backing in the sun or settling amongst the thorns with no hope of producing the fruit required. Useless and forgotten. Although that seed came from the same bag bought by the farmer to plant and then to reap his harvest, it never takes root and dies, the cares of life become too much to handle. It’s the faith of the Christian that must feed our hope. Just like the rich soil nourishes the seed and water then allows it to germinate into a fully grown plant that brings forth much fruit.

 

Life and then some looks to interfere with the process, if we fall privy to its deceit. The cares of life has this intention; “And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” (Luke 8:14)

 

The Christian has been given sight by the great I AM, God has equipped us with great insight, and the doors of eternity are open to the believer. However, because it is so far removed from our natural understanding, we need a looking glass to see clearly, and our great Saviour has afford us the privilege, but in order to access those binoculars we must tap into faith and hope. It’s the nocks and the disappointments of life that looks to shift our gaze, but it’s the Word of God that realigns our rudders to see them for what they are, an experience to help us squeeze and hold onto our Saviours finished work even tighter. James actually takes it a step further, he instructs us to count in all joy when we are faced with various trials. It’s like a long distance runner, he must train in order to gain the stamina for an upcoming marathon. Christianity is a marathon and not a sprint, we too need the pressure of various trail to build our stamina, it produces a steadfastness. A determination to stay the course. However when the trail is viewed through carnal eyes, we will be swallowed up.

 

Let me concluded with this truth; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) – You see how faith and hope work together to trim our sails and even though the battle is fierce, we know in whom we believe. Our God will get us home, and just in case we think the cup we need to drink is too much to handle, read the rest of Hebrews chapter 11 and it will soon become obvious that what most of us face is trivial in comparison.

 

Thank you Father God for this reminder, I needed it, please give me and whoever else is in need of a special measure of your grace and the strength to find it, praise your name now and forever more, Amen and Amen!

 

Signing off

 

Tyrone