And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away….And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended (fall away from the truth).
Mark 4:5-6,16-17 KJV
The seed sown upon stony ground finds little depth of soil. The plant springs up quickly, but the root cannot penetrate the rock to find nutriment to sustain its growth, and it soon perishes. Many who make a profession of religion are stony-ground hearers. Like the rock underlying the layer of earth, the selfishness of the natural heart underlies the soil of their good desires and aspirations. The love of self is not subdued…This class may be easily convinced, and appear to be bright converts, but they have only a superficial (surface level) religion.
The roots of the plant strike down deep into the soil, and hidden from sight nourish the life of the plant. So with the Christian; it is by the invisible union of the soul with Christ, through faith, that the spiritual life is nourished. But the stony-ground hearers depend upon self instead of Christ. They trust in their good works and good impulses, and are strong in their own righteousness.
The hot summer sun, that strengthens and ripens the hardy grain, destroys that which has no depth of root. So he who “hath not root in himself,” “dureth for a while”; but “when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended, Matthew 13:21 KJV .” Many receive the gospel as a way of escape from suffering, rather than as a deliverance from sin. They rejoice for a season, for they think that religion will free them from difficulty and trial. While life moves smoothly with them, they may appear to be consistent Christians. But they faint beneath the fiery test of temptation. They cannot bear reproach (shame) for Christ’s sake.
There are very many who claim to serve God, but who have no experimental knowledge of Him…..They profess to accept Christ as their Saviour, but they do not believe that He will give them power to overcome their sins.
The only hope for these souls is to realise in themselves the truth of Christ’s words to Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” “Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:7, 3 KJV.
The effort to serve both self and Christ makes one a stony-ground hearer, and he will not endure when the test comes upon him.
Christ’s Object Lessons pg. 46-50
Loud Cry Compendium
Loud Cry Compendium 