The parable of the sower introduces us to the “good ground.” This is where the seed is allowed to grow and bear fruit. I believe it would be worthwhile to better understand this “good ground.” Four types of ground are described. We need to pray that we escape the first three and enjoy the fourth.
Messiah explains the nature of this good ground in Matthew 13:23: “he that heareth the word, and understandeth it, and also beareth fruit.” Compare this verse to Revelation 17:14 where we are told who is with Yahweh Shua when he returns on Yom Teruah or the Feast of Shouting: “they that are with him are called, and chosen, and FAITHFUL.”
These verses remind us of what we are taught in Matthew 20:16: “for many be called, but few chosen.”
Also recall what Messiah told his disciples in John 15:16: “you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
Now we know who chooses us, but who does the calling? John 6:44 will enlighten us: “no man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him.”
Now, there is a third component to Revelation 17:14 which we must not overlook and that is that we are called to be faithful. How important is this? Messiah tells the ekklesia at Smyrna, “be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life”, in Revelation 2:10.
Being called and chosen is very crucial to receiving the crown of life. At least this allows you to be in the race. (1 Corinthians 9:24) However, it is not just a matter of participation but how you finish. What you are really desiring to hear is, “well done, good and faithful servant”, Matthew 25:21.
We have been enlightened as to the extreme necessity of being faithful. But what else can we learn about the nature of being faithful? When we compare Matthew 13:23 to Revelation 17:14 we learn this: the calling can be compared to hearing the word, the choosing to understanding and being faithful in bearing fruit.
By being called and chosen we are given an opportunity but bearing fruit or being faithful is very different. This is where we must make a decision. Notice in Matthew 25 in the parable of the talents, the men are each “given” some goods. The first man and second man each produce a 100% return on what they are given. Yes, Messiah’s investment in them allows them to successfully bear fruit.
But the third man, who was given a smaller gift, produced no return on Messiah’s gift. The first two heard, “well done, good and faithful servant”, while the third man, the unprofitable servant, was thrown into “outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
What a waste! This man was given the opportunity by being called and chosen by the Father and the Son, but he squandered it. He chose not to bear fruit. We cannot just be content to hear the word and then manifest our understanding through baptism. Once we have the seed of Messiah implanted within us by the laying on of hands, we must then nurture it so it matures and allows us to bear fruit.
Paul gives us insight into the kind of fruit we are expected to bear in Galatians 5:22-23: “but the fruit of the spirit is LOVE. Joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Note that the first fruit mentioned is love. A great reference to examine regarding love is 1 Corinthians 13, which gives a very thorough understanding of what love is. It is greater than faith and hope. I wonder why? Well, we are called to be faithful. How do we gain faith? Paul tells us in Galatians 5:6: “faith which worketh by love”. As our love is manifested, our faith grows. If we desire more faith, we must learn to exhibit more love. Who are we called to love? We are told to love the Father, the Son, and really all mankind, even our enemies.
Bearing fruit is a very involved and challenging process. We must not just be stuck in being called and chosen. We are called to move forward and bear fruit. This is where the work begins. Notice how Messiah describes the importance of bearing fruit in Revelation 2:19: “ I know thy works and love, and services, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first.” Twice he mentions works. Consider works to be another way of expressing or bearing fruit. It is twice as important as love, service, faith and patience. It is interesting to observe that one’s last works or fruit are expected to be greater than the works or fruit we initially produced!
I believe that James has something very interesting to say about the importance of works. You will find this in James 2:17-18: “even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
I find it interesting that James considers us a “kind of first fruits of his creation”, James 2:18. How could this be? Messiah is called, “the first fruits of them that slept” in 1 Corinthians 15:20. Again, this is amplified in Colossians 1:18, “he is the head of the body: the ekklesia: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead.” It is interesting to note that Messiah is considered both a first fruit and first born. We are reminded in 1 John 3:2, “we shall be like him”, therefore we too can be considered to be a first fruit and firstborn similar to Messiah.
Now consider what he had to do to allow us to become firstfruits even first born. He was slain from the foundation of the world. “He was stricken, smitten of Elohim and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5.) For us to be among the 144,000, we must imitate the Son as a “first fruit unto Yahweh and to the Lamb” (Revelation 14:4) and be willing to suffer and die—the ultimate sacrifice.
By asking us to bear fruit, he is asking us to suffer and die as he did for us. Paul makes this very clear in Romans 8:17: “and if children, then heirs, heirs of Elohim, and joint-heirs with Messiah: if it so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
How we are able to become a first fruit like Messiah is a mystery. Consider what we are told in Colossians 1:26-27:
Even the mystery which hath been hid for the ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom Yahweh would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Messiah in you, the hope of glory.
Messiah is being formed within us (Galatians 4:19.) When we are resurrected in the better resurrection, we will be like him, a first fruit and firstborn.
The result comes with a price. Being called and chosen is grace. Bearing fruit is a requirement we must choose to fulfill to be worthy of the favor of being called and chosen. Yes, there will be suffering and it will be difficult. Remember what we are told in Acts 14:22: “we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of Yahweh.”
Once we have heard the word and express understanding by being baptized, we have only just begun. Now we must face the task, the challenge, of bearing fruit. Messiah offers this cold, sober thought in John 15:2: “every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
What is the penalty for not bearing fruit? We are told in John 15:6 that those who did not bear fruit are cast into the fire. This refers to the lake of fire, the second death. This means you will not be in the kingdom but outside with the “dogs, sorcerers, whore mongers, idolaters and those who love a lie,” (Revelation 22:15).
It is imperative that we understand what baptism commits us to do. Hebrews 10:26-27 offers this insight:
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of the judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
There it is again --a reference to the lake of fire, the second death that precedes the new heavens and earth. With this change the fire is extinguished and those therein are alive, without inheritance, and outside Yahweh’s house, New Jerusalem.
It is my suggestion that you review the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 as well as the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Pray to Yahweh for truth. We are called to die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31.) We are told to “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Yahweh, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1.)
Paul offers these words of comfort in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Messiah which strengtheneth me.” Messiah offers further comfort with these words: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20) and again in Hebrews 13:5: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
It is not our strength but his within us that will carry the day and allow us to bear the fruit necessary to overcome.