One day our Lord was in the counry, with His disciples standing round about Him. And He observes a famer sowing seed into the ground. Very clearly our Lord was not only interested in agriculture, but he knew a good deal about it. But the sight of that farmer does not prompt our Lord to deliver an address on agriculture: but as He watches that farmer He sees an illustration for His sermon. "You see that man," says our Lord. "He is sowing seed into the ground. There are different types of ground into which it is sown: and the ground will be judged by its response to the seed that the farmer is sowing into it. I am like that farmer: I am sowing the seed of the word of God which leads to eternal life. Ultimately men will be judged by their reaction to that seed sown in their lives."
On another occasion when in the country our Lord beholds the various fruit-trees in an orchard. It is quite clear that our Lord knew a good deal about horticulture, but that does not lead Him to deliver an address on the subject. "Look at those trees," says our Lord. "They may bear either good or bad fruit. Ultimately they will be judged by the kind of fruit that they bear." And turning to His disciples, He says, "You are exactly like those trees. By your lives and by your works you will bear either good or bad fruit. So take heed." On another occasion our Lord was in the country and He observed the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. "If God is so concerned about the lilies of the field that He clothes them, and about the birds of the air, that He feeds them, how much more is He concerned about you," Christ says. So I could go on taking you through our Lord's discourses,and you will find how He is constantly making use of things around Him to illustrate His one great theme - the soul of man and its realtionship to God.
If you accept the gospel and yield yourself to it, it will mean another birth for you: it will mean trial and temptetion, it will mean persecution, it will mean the crucifixion and death of an "old man" that is in you. BUT, it will lead to life which is life indeed, life more abunant, yea, the very life of God Himself.
"Enter ye in at the strait gate." Come on to the narrow way!
(from D. M. Lloyd-Jones, Evangelistic Sermons)
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