“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life never stands still. Every day is a new page, every situation a new chapter. 

Jesus told many stories, of situations, choices, and consequences like, for example, the story of a farmer who scattered seed in his field. Each seed germinated, grew, and eventually responded to the environment into which it fell. Most of the seeds were unproductive because their circumstances were hostile. One quarter grew, flourished, and produced a harvest. 

“Why are you telling us these stories?” the disciples asked. Jesus explained their purpose. Every parable was intended to draw people into the story, to identify their place in the narrative. “Where do you fit in?” Each story required a response. They were not intended to entertain but to expose. 

“So,” said Jesus, “some people hear but don’t listen. Every story I tell them pushes them deeper into rebellion. Every seed of truth I sow is rejected and becomes unproductive, like the seed falling into hard, stony, or thorny soil. They go progressively backwards into unbelief and towards judgment.” 

“He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, even the stories Jesus told were intended to separate His hearers into two groups…those who heard and walked backwards and those who heard and walked on. No listener remained the same. 

James expressed the same thought in his warning…

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life is always a moving story. No one ever stands still or remains the same, day in and day out. Each new year is an opportunity to do a “ lifestyle audit”, to check the progress, to gauge the distance we have travelled since the last audit. 

Some have travelled far along the path of faith, faithfulness, and obedience to the one we call “Lord”. Others have slid back into unbelief, disobedience, and rebellion, simply by failing to respond to the Word. 

So, Jesus counsels, whatever you hear, whatever truth to which you are exposed, is not intended to hide but to bring light into every situation and, one day it will. You can be sure that God’s truth will uncover every lie we have believed, every deception, every wrong path we have followed, every instruction we have ignored. 

Our journey through life continues every day and we progress or regress according to the way we hear. 

“Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

We will either gain or lose wisdom along the way. What we carry into eternity will depend on what we do with what we hear now. 

To be continued…