After the disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable of the sower (Mark 4), they asked why he spoke in parables. Before He explains He responds with a quote from Isaiah. (Isa 6:9 NIV) "Go and tell this people: "'Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' In other words He seems to say I speak in parables so some won’t understand. The opposite of everything we try to do isn’t it?
In Isaiah, the people of Israel after having been blessed by God so much, have turned their back on Him. Gradually but consistently.
Isaiah 5 – woes, people rejecting.
5:4 I looked for good (grapes) and found bad
5:7 looked for justice and found bloodshed
5:12 no regard for the deeds of the Lord or the works of His hands
Isaiah 6 – charge to Isaiah
Isaiah 7 etc. – more rejection.
Gradual hardening. Then complete hardening.
The result – God is disgraced.
So, Here’s at least one secret. It is all about God’s glory. Its not about us its about Him. But there seems to be a second secret in this parable as well. That opportunities don’t last forever. Given that you have an opportunity now to bring God glory, how will we do it? If we keep putting it off we will eventually lose the opportunity, or be so distracted we won't even know the opportunities exist.
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