Anyone who loves gardening will tell you that the condition of the soil plays an important part in the health of the plants. Whether or not the plants flourish, depends greatly on the effort made to prepare the soil and keep it free of obstructing rocks and invading plants that steal the nourishment meant for the desired plants.
Jesus illustrates this principle in his parable of the sower and the four types of soil in Matthew 13:1-23.
The seed and method of sowing used in all scenarios were exactly the same, but the different types of soil yielded different results.
In the same parable, Jesus states that even though people hear his words and see his actions, they are dull of heart and do not really see or hear with comprehension. Unfortunately, this is still true today. According to research by experts on self-awareness, 95% of people believe they are self-aware, but only 15% truly are.
The Holy Spirit made this reality known ages ago by inspiring Jeremiah to write that the heart is deceptive above all and cannot really be understood. The implication is that the majority of us, if not all to some degree, are oblivious to the internal conditions of our hearts.
We focus our judgement outwards and leave our hearts unexamined. Bitterness, resentment, pride, discontentment, jealousy, disgust, fear, entitlement, dishonour, and many others grow and fester undetected. As Jesus explained to his disciples, this thwarts our healing.
We have an inward responsibility to manage the soil of our hearts and the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, the Ultimate Counsellor and Comforter wants to come to our aid in this regard.
It is not the seeds that life deposits as much as the condition of the soil in our hearts that stimulates the healing and hopeful, and stunts the harmful and poisonous. Consequently, energy spent on the execution of the aforementioned responsibility is a wise and beneficial investment.
Let us take up, with a newfound zeal, this responsibility. For herein lies an undervalued key to healing.
- Romien Joubert is of the Lighuis Jesus-bediening.
