While reading the news this morning in the quiet I have before the day starts, I thought how different is life these days. How much do people really think is important? How much responsibility do they think they have? If there is one thing that defines character, it is most likely accepting the responsibility for “failure” and doing something about it.

Many years ago I went through a divorce (Actually two, but this one was on my side.) and a lot of the reason was drugs and inability to accept or own my own issues. Now I never think divorce is a good thing or even a God thing, but I understand how she got there. Oh, how I wish there had been someone to tell me I was “better than that”. But my circle was made up of people who had failed and accepted it.

I wrote this in 1998. And while my thinking on what is finished and what is not has changed, the root of it is secure.

Giving up

Why is it some people can go through the toughest trial or tribulation and not throw in the towel, while others, the wind blows and their roots are pulled up? We all know the parable of the sower and the seed. Take a look at this.

Luke 8:
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

Verse 5 indicates some simply never gets there. A friend of mind calls them “Christ rejectors” and at first I thought that was harsh until I realized we, in the country of USA have probably heard the Gospel at least once. And many rejected it. (I call them pre-believers at this stage of my life, calling it as though it is. Also notice there is demonic factor there.)

Verse 6 says the seed sat on rocky ground and no moisture(NO WORD OF GOD WAS POURED ON IT!!! No love.) Gone. Finished.

And then there is the group that lets the COWS(cares of the world) get to them. They let every frustration choke the Word out of their heart. Many Christians fall in the last two positions. (I no longer believe it is “finished” as in over but I do believe people can live as if it is.)

It’s good to know there is one other place you can be…

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

So who are you? If you are on this list, it is unlikely you are in the first group. (No Born again, washed in the blood Christian could be there!) How about the second?

Has your time with the Lord been lacking, no time in the Word(moisture), times getting dry? Read it! Wither away!!! Die with no fruit, no nothing(yes mom-good English!).

How about class 3? COWS trampling your field? The Lord says,”take no worry or care for anything!” It is time to hoe out, be pruned and get rid of the excess baggage. What is excess? Whatever the Lord shows you through the Word and His time with you. Mistresses are “cares”…the things that keep you from the Lord and time with Him

Or are you the person that bears fruit a hundredfold? Does what you sow reap 100 times? A year ago when I asked my wife that question, she actually told me she knew someone!!! Whatever he sows, she feels he reaps 100 fold.

So I looked at his ministry, his life, everything. He walks in a Biblical manner, following the Lord wherever He may go.

That walk is available to you and I!!! How do I know?

“And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Church. Have you heard? Jesus is here! He’s alive! He’s coming back! If you have more dust on your Bible than on the floor, you are preparing to wither and die. If you feel depressed and discouraged it’s time to kick the COWS outta the field! Time to let God prune(oh it hurts so good!) and shape you to a tree that produces. Nor fruit? Why not? Dig for the answer. Be a farmer of the Word.

Needless to say I was immature in some of my thinking, harder than I needed to be and definitely lacking in the realms of grace. First, I believe Jesus did it all. He died for the whole world. The choice is yours and mine to accept it. I do believe there is unfinished work to be done by us to establish His kingdom. I do not believe a person can lose their salvation though it may in fact appear that way. I believe all have the potential to receive 100 fold.

With that said the worries or cares of the world affect a lot of people. Why? Lack of trust. Believing a lie. Choices. Always about choices.

Grace begets grace. Allowing grace into your life creates more grace. Part of the ability to accept grace comes from the ability to accept responsibility. When one accepts responsibility for their actions what they find is immense grace suddenly becomes available. And changes happen. One also finds that accepting the responsibility, changes their perception and with the reception of grace no longer are they focused on sin. (For the law just empowers sin, but it is grace that empowers life.)

Character is not something ethereal. It is the reality of a life tested under fire. How you stand in trials reveals the truth of character AND the power of God living through you. It is certainly time for some men and women to be “released” on the scene.

“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln