KJV and NKJV Scripture
– And Jesus said to him, “No man having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62
– Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul – seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go.” – 1 Samuel 16:1
“The Sower” is a painting by van Gogh. It shows a stark country setting. A simple farmhouse sits far off in the background. The foreground shows a young man walking across a dirt field with a seed bag slung over his shoulder – the sun blazing above. His gaze is fixed ahead as he scatters seeds behind – unaware a few birds have gathered there; already eating some of them. It is a good illustration of the lead verse.
A bad illustration is sitting in the same Sunday seats week after week, year after year. Doing so develops a complacent Christian life not in accordance with God’s Word. The more we feel at home here in our body – including that of a church – the more we’re absent from the Lord. We don’t want to be found naked at the end because we clothed ourselves in the comfort of any physical church (2 Corinthians 5:1-6).
This is not God’s idea of spiritual farming. Failing to move when God commands is stubbornness. When He told Noah to build the ark – Noah moved with fear (Hebrews 11:7). He didn’t tell God it wasn’t a good time. Stubbornness is a sin (1 Samuel 15:23). It is a refusal to move in accordance with the Word, because one is still conformed to the world (Romans 12:1-2). It is remaining in a state of disobedient unbelief.
We don’t see people chosen by God to follow Him (John 15:16) like Moses, David, and Paul attending weekly Sunday church services or mid-week Bible studies. Then, wandering about in the world outside of those times, wondering what God wanted them to do. Jesus did not hang on a Cross for us to hang around in an idle haze, confused at any time about what God wants us to do (1 Corinthians 14:33).
There are many reasons why we have to be on the move much of the time. One reason is God always has something for us to do – as long as He is the One leading us by the Spirit (Romans 8:1). We cannot make things up in our minds as some accused Moses of doing (Numbers 16:28). God warns us of having false dreams or lying divinations; misled by them – or misleading others (Jeremiah 23:32, Ezekiel 13:6-7).
While Samuel mourned over God’s rejection of Saul as Israel’s king – Samuel was going to be of no use to Him sitting in the same place too long (second lead verse). There was a new king to go find and anoint. Still, Samuel didn’t wander off without a clue, hoping he would happen upon the right person. God had set directions and instructions for Samuel, as is always the case with us (1 Samuel 16:1-13, Proverbs 5:23).
Another reason we have to keep moving is because we are all being pursued by the devil. Satan is a spiritual predator who does not sleep. He always knows where we are and who we are (Job 1:6-11, Acts 19:15) – roaring about like a lion seeking whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). It’s easier for physical predators to attack and kill sick, weak, or stationary targets. It’s easier for Satan to do the same.
God designed our bodies – physical and spiritual – to move. A third reason for both to be in movement is it promotes health and healing. As Christians, we are not our own anymore. We have been bought with a price, and we are to glorify God in our body and our spirit; which are His (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Lack of use with either leads to atrophy; a gradual decline in vigor or effectiveness due to underuse or neglect.
Any person in such a state often wants or requires others to do things for them physically or spiritually. In the book of John, a man with an infirmity (physical weakness) had sat by the pool at Bethesda – for 38 years. Many other impotent people were also there. An angel would enter the pool in a certain season and stir it up. After this troubling of the waters, the first person in after would be made whole (John 5:2-5).
When Jesus saw this man – He knew the man had been infirm a long time. Christ asked, “Do you want to be made well?” The man replied, “Sir, I have no man to put me in the pool when the water is troubled. But, while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said, “Rise, take your bed and walk.” The man did and was immediately healed (John 5:6-8). Christ never touched him. Jesus simply said “Move.”
Movement prevents us from having too much idle time on our hands. Idle time leads to idle words we will all give account of on judgement day (Matthew 12:36). It also creates idol walks and talks, and worldly conversations we are not to have (Exodus 23:13, 2 Corinthians 1:12). In addition to other sins like pride, an abundance of idleness led to God’s fiery destruction of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49, Genesis 19:24).
Movement does not mean staying busy all the time. When the Pharaoh oppressed Israel, he wanted them to be so busy making bricks, they wouldn’t have time to make sacrifices for God. This is too busy (Exodus 5:6-8). We have to stop from time to time to clearly hear God’s still, small voice – to get new instructions as Elijah did (1 Kings 19:11-15). However, once we do – we move with fear and without delay like Noah.
Staying in one place too long leads to familiarity. Familiarity tends to breed contemptuous, complacent, careless, and/or lukewarm spirits. Such ungodly attributes arise from getting too accustomed to something or someone. Relaxed Christians are the end result (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). Even in their churches where Satan could be sitting, or preaching from the pulpit (Revelation 2:13, Ephesians 6:12).
If we move ahead and don’t look back in accordance with God’s Word (lead verse), in humble obedience to His commands unto death (Philippians 2:8) – we’re doing His will. God’s charge in Matthew 24:14 can’t be fulfilled any other way. If we sit still in one place too long, the sin of stubbornness is sure to stagnate our spiritual growth. This gives place to Satan and plenty of room to devour us (Ephesians 4:27).
Much like the style of van Gogh’s “The Sower” – we’re to sling a spiritual seed bag over our shoulder and set out across the farmlands of faith. Sowing the Word of God as our seed as He leads us by the Spirit (Mark 4:14, Luke 8:11). Not looking back over our shoulder to see if they are landing on stony ground – or if the devil is there to take them away, or we’re not fit for God’s kingdom of heaven (Mark 4:15-16, lead verse).
This keeps us from sowing the same spiritual fields over and over. When farmers of God’s physical fields do this year after year, the dirt becomes stressed and unfruitful. The same goes for the spiritual soil of our hearts. Instead, we scatter a handful of seeds on the ground and move on ahead. God will send another person along to water it – but He alone will be the One to provide the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Only God decides what any physical or spiritual seed will ever become, giving each one its own body as it pleases Him (1 Corinthians 15:37-38). We can’t grow seeds planted in human hearts into producing spiritual fruits God commands them to become in ourselves or any other person (Galatians 5:22-23). If we try to, we only defile His crop (Deuteronomy 22:9). This doesn’t move anyone closer to heaven, does it?
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