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Faith Is Opposed - Luke 8
Faith Is Opposed - Luke 8
As we read the gospels, we encounter many people who believed in Jesus but we also encounter many who rejected Him and His claims and set about to obstruct people from believing. Hence, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. I think a better title is simply the parable of the soils, for the emphasis is about the different responses to the gospel.
The power behind such opposition was and is Satan. Faith in Jesus is required for salvation, hence Satan attacks the very things that would create and sustain faith. “The devil comes and takes away the word from their heart’ (vs. 12).
Those that become believers are immediately beset with temptation – all manner of temptation, anything that would turn one away from faith: persecution, poverty, illness, being alienated from society, friends, and family, etc.. MANY things can turn one’s attention and faith away from Jesus. It is NOT that they didn’t believe, for Jesus tells us THEY BELIEVED (vs. 13), but then adds “for a while”.
Jesus enlarges this to include all of the ‘cares of this world’. Believers can become so wound up in ‘living’ that they neglect the things of faith.
Behind ALL OF THIS is Satan. He will do everything within his power to turn our hearts away from Jesus and overthrow our faith. Hence the admonition of Peter: “ Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
What are you doing to guard your faith?
Hugh DeLong
