“but other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.” Matt 13:8 KJV

We all come from different backgrounds. Some are churched from babyhood whilst others never step inside a church until they are an adult attending a funeral.

How fortunate are those steeped in their faith from their earliest years? They know the Bible stories, whilst others have grown up hearing only nonsense nursery rhymes. These are lives that have fallen into good soil, we think!

But the truth is even if a child is brought up in the church, they still need to come to the Cross, humbly admitting that they are a sinner in desperate need of a Saviour. And for some, it seems more straightforward for the unchurched to see this than for the child who has never stepped out into the world.

The world is an intoxicating place for the child who has never been allowed to go out and experiment with sin. The nightlife, the city streets, and the pull of being part of the crowd have a terrible draw on the churched child. Although they have grown up in the church, many have only observed and not participated in the teachings of Christ and so have never fallen into the good soil. For them, the birds of the air have devoured the good seed of the word of God before it has had time to enter their hearts.

There is only one place we find good soil: at the foot of the Cross of Calvary. Whether you are a child of a saint or a sinner, you need a Saviour. Whether you have thrown yourself into the world and experienced all it has to offer or just looked at it wistfully through a window, you need to find Christ.

And only Christ can help you, planting you into the good soil so that you may bear fruit thirtyfold, sixtyfold or a hundredfold.

Rather than wistfully looking at the temptations the world has to offer with its sparkling nightlife and attractions, look at the Cross. You might be called to bear fruit that will be a hundredfold. Why always assume it will be someone else? It could be for you.

See instead the glittering city lights of the glory of the eternal city. One day, you will come home to Him, the one who died for you. To hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” would be heartwarming! And to know that you might bear fruit, leading others into the kingdom, would be more than the reward we deserve.

“So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.” Colossians 1:28,29 NLT

Yes, even Paul worked and struggled. Fight the good fight until the lights of the eternal city become brighter than the lights on Earth's shores.