“God is Still Speaking” – Mark 4:1-9 – October 18, 2009
When my family traveled we always took a cooler filled with food. We didn’t have cell phones or I-pods. We played travel games and enjoyed the scenery. When my grandchildren travel they sit in their car seats and watch videos or listen to satellite radio. People don’t take coolers any more. They take their lap tops and their credit cards. The world has changed and will continue to change.
But, one thing hasn’t changed. That is the word of God. It is a word which continues to comfort and challenge us. It is a word about God’s love and grace. Unfortunately people aren’t tuned in to the word of God because they are too distracted. How often do you find yourself having a conversation with a friend, only to be interrupted with a cell phone or text message? Everywhere I go, people seem to be living in their own little technological world. They are glued to their Face Book pages or listening to something on U-Tube.
Today, we hear a story from Mark. The parable of the sower is one of Jesus’ most famous parables. On the surface we assume it to be about planting seeds, but actually it has to do with what intensity we listen to the word of God. So, turn off your cell phones, your I-pods and shut down your PC’s because God is still speaking!
The slogan for the United Church of Christ is: “God is still speaking.” We may live in a world where many people believe the Church is no longer relevant, or that we no longer need faith since humankind has advanced to great lengths in science and technology. When you are sick you go to a specialist. When you have a problem, you find an engineer. If you need some information you use Google on your personal computer.
Does anyone still pray anymore or meditate? Is anyone reading the Bible, studying the scriptures and really listening to God?
If you have ever planted a vegetable garden you know that different seeds require different instructions for planting. Some are planted only 1 inch deep while others are planted as much as 3 inches deep. Some are planted 2 inches apart while others are planted 6 inches apart. To have a successful garden you have to follow the instructions on the envelope. In other words, you have to listen.
If you read on in the 4th chapter of Mark, verses 13-20, you will discover that Jesus explained the meaning of the parable to his listeners. When seeds are scattered on a path they will never produce. They are trampled on or eaten by birds and animals. Those on the path are the ones who are easy prey because they have closed their ears to the word of God. Instead of being open to the lessons of life, they just wing it.
One time a law professor told his class they could bring as much information for their final exam as long as it could fit on once piece of notebook paper. All the students crammed as many facts as they possibly could on one standard 8 ½ by 11 inch sheet of paper. But one student walked into class during exam day and placed a piece of notebook paper on the floor. He then motioned to his father, who was a corporate lawyer, to come in the room and stand on the paper. During the exam his father told him everything he needed to know. He was the only student who got an “A” on the exam.
The Bible can provide everything we need to know about life. Not only can it teach us, it can inspire us, comfort us and help us with our relationships. It is a book of hope, love, joy and peace. To ignore its’ content is to be like the seed on the path who never listens. To learn from its’ stories is to gain awareness of the presence of God in all life’s circumstances. God is still speaking!
When seeds are sowed among the rocks they can’t take root. They grow quickly and they look good in the beginning but because they have no roots, they wither and die. Such it is for our faith. We can go through the motions, pretend that we are listening but when we meet up with a crisis we panic or give up. We need to be rooted in the faith to sustain us through the difficult challenges of life.
A man was waiting at a stoplight and the light turned green but he didn’t notice. A woman was in the car behind him. She got impatient and started honking her horn. She pounded on her steering wheel and made some unkind gestures toward the man. Finally, the man noticed the woman behind him throwing a tantrum. He looked up and the light had turned yellow so he accelerated and drove through the intersection just as the light turned red. The woman was now stopped for a second time and she continued to yell and curse.
About that time a police officer tapped on her window and told her to get out of the car. The officer put her in hand cuffs and escorted to his patrol car. She was totally bewildered and she didn’t say a word as the officer took her to the local police station. There she is booked and fingerprinted, photographed, searched and placed in a cell. A couple of hours later she was released. The officer apologized for arresting her. “I’m really sorry for the mistake,” he said, “but you see, while you were honking your horn, yelling and making wild gestures, I noticed that you had a bumper sticker on your car that said, ‘what would Jesus do.’ Naturally I thought the car was stolen.”
The woman was impatient and angry, not exactly indicative of a person of faith. When we don’t have sound Christian roots, others can misinterpret our faithfulness. We have deep roots when we are patient, faithful and loving. When others experience God’s grace through us they will experience the word of God. They will know that God is still speaking.
The seeds that were planted among the thorns are those that choke them and prevent them from growing. Since we live in such a complex society it is not easy to maintain a vibrant faith. We are easily distracted by the cares of the world. There is a multitude of activities that demand our time, attention and resources. It’s not easy to be a person of faith in a world that pulls us in so many directions.
On Saturday afternoon I was visiting a relative in the hospital. She fell asleep and I decided to find a lounge or waiting room and watch Ohio State play football. I found a nearby lounge with a television. The room was dark and a guy was sprawled out on the sofa. The television was really turned on loud and the guy was flipping channels, not really tuned in to anything in particular. He handed me the controller and told me that I could pick a channel. I left it where it was but turned down the volume. He then proceeded to tell me that his wife was in ICU and was on a ventilator. He was feeling overwhelmed and worried. I listened and tried to be empathic. After a few minutes he sat up, handed me the controller and said, “I guess I better see how my wife is doing. Thanks for listening.”
He left and I had the whole room to myself. I quickly tuned in to the Ohio State game and managed to watch the 4th quarter. There is a God!
The parable of the sower provides words of encouragement because it ultimately promises great yields, 30, 60, even a 100. Although there are those who appose us and although there are times when our efforts fail, there is still hope. By listening to God and planting our seeds of faith in good soil we can expect results.
This is a parable of hope. We can’t expect great results in all that we do. The corn and bean crops in Ohio this year are yielding record amounts but next year it might be different. Sometimes our prayers go unanswered and sometimes our efforts to be faithful seem to fall on deaf ears. The parable illustrates that as persons of faith, our efforts have mixed results. Nevertheless, God will be with us.
The point is we must scatter seeds. God wants us to take advantage of every opportunity to spread the word and teach others about the faith because God is still speaking.
Dr. Keith Wagner