Jesus illustrated human receptivity to the Good News by using a parable of a man sowing seed, and the seed lands on four kinds of soil, with four different results. He explained,

“Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8.12–15).

Some people have hard hearts that do not let the good news penetrate their hearts at all. Some people receive the word, but it lasts only as long as the next temptation. Some people hear the word, and they grow somewhat, but they never produce fruit, because cares, riches, and the pleasures of life capture their attention.

Then there are people who hear the word and because their hearts are good, they grow and produce fruit abundantly.

Can you tell which one describes you?