The Devil Comes to Steal

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Now that we've had a chance to go over the trampled path underfoot and the birds of the air that devoured the seed that fell on the path, it's time to focus on "the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts." This verse focuses on the spiritual affecting the natural world. Simply, this parable illustrates the battle for the eternal life of individuals between the spiritual forces of good and evil.

Consider John 10:10, where Jesus explains his purpose as the good shepherd and further says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that [the sheep] may have life and have it abundantly." Although from a separate parable, the above quote equates "the devil" from Luke 8:11-12 to "the thief" of John 10:10 for the devil/thief comes to steal the word from your heart, killing the chance for individuals to consider the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ, and destroying the individual's opportunity for eternal life.

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it…Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

-Luke 8:5 & 11-12 (ESV)

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Now, there will be a range of reactions to what I wrote above. Yet, I believe there are spiritual forces of good and evil struggling for each of our souls with regard to the eternal life we will live. The parable of the soil and the soil types reflect this spiritual struggle that manifests in the environment and experiences that each of us have. The devil's "steal[ing] and kill[ing] and destroy[ing]" are barriers to receiving the word of God and understanding salvation through Jesus Christ.

Contemplate: What environment or experiences cause an individual's heart to be hardened to the word of God as described by the trampled soil with the birds of the air?