By David Allen
The Parable of the Sower
Luke 8:5-8. A farmer went out to sow seeds. As he scattered them, some fell by the roadside and were trampled down by passersby, and the birds of the air devoured them. Others fell on rocky ground, and though they sprouted quickly, they soon withered away because they lacked moisture. Still others fell among thorns, which grew up with them and choked them out. But some seeds fell on good ground, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a hundredfold harvest. When he had finished speaking, Jesus said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."
Luke 8:11-15. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the roadside are those who hear the word, but then the devil comes and snatches it away from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are those who hear the word with joy and accept it readily, but they have no root and endure for only a short time. When the time of testing comes, they fall away. Those among the thorns are those who hear the word, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and they never reach maturity. But those on the good ground are those who hear the word with an honest and good heart, and they hold onto it. They persevere and bear fruit with patience.
The Soil of Our HeartsThe soil in the parable represents our hearts. We are all born with hearts that can be hard and filled with weeds and stones, as Psalm 51:5 reminds us: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." This doesn't mean we are destined for sin, but it acknowledges our natural tendency to stray from God. Proverbs 22:15 further suggests, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him." This implies that our hearts naturally lean towards unwise choices.
The Seed of the WordThe seed in the parable represents the word of God, which is the Gospel: the good news that God loves us and sent His son Jesus Christ to die for our sins so we can be saved. At some point in everyone's life, the Gospel will be planted in their heart. It's then up to us to decide whether we will nurture it and allow it to grow, or ignore it and let it die.
God's Tools for Cultivating FaithGod doesn't leave us to without hope to be ruled by our sinful nature. He desires to save His children and has given to everyone two tools to help them choose Him:
Conscience: Genesis 3:15 tells us that God put enmity between humanity and sin. This internal conflict, often manifested through our conscience, can convict us of our wrongdoing and draw us towards God.
Measure of Faith: Romans 12:3 suggests that God has given each person a certain "measure of faith," a yearning for something greater that only He can fill. This innate desire can lead us to seek Him out.
Christian TestimoniesMany Christian testimonies follow a similar pattern:
Life in the weeds and stones: This represents a time of sin and separation from God.
God's Cultivation: This describes a period of God's grace working in their hearts, often through hardships or encounters with the Gospel.
Planting the Seed: This represents the moment they received the word of God and began to understand the Gospel.
Response to God's love: This describes how their conscience convicted them of sin. The faith that God gave them germinates and the love that he showed them, drew them to God.
Cultivation of Faith: This refers to their ongoing journey of growth as they live out their faith.
The Parable of the Sower serves as a powerful reminder that our hearts are fertile ground for the word of God. While some may reject it or let it die, those who receive it with an open heart and nurture it will experience a harvest of joy, peace, and eternal life.
My life in the weeds and stones:
My childhood was a paradox. Raised in a religious household, I spent much of my time glued to the television, immersed in fictional worlds of "I Dream of Jeannie”, "Gilligan's Island” and all the rest. The idea of chasing after earthly pleasures, of succumbing to the "lust of the flesh and the eyes," unknowingly held me captive.
At 12, I was baptized, this was by Pastor Sibel. I was sincere it was genuine but but only transiently life changing. I did not see the danger of spending my free time with the Swiss family Robinson in “Lost in Space” and “Don Adam in “Get Smart”. The seed that God had planted in my heart was not thriving on water and food given only on Sabbath. I attended church, obeyed the rules (sometimes), yet lacked significant relationship with God. My life was a dichotomy: outward conformity masking an inner shallowness.
As I entered my teenage years, the "carnal man" took the wheel. Though I avoided vices like drugs and alcohol, I was adrift, lacking purpose and direction. My days were filled with fleeting pleasures, devoid of lasting fulfillment.
God cultivating the ground:
God has been cultivating the soil of my heart since I was Born. I was very blesses.
The Legacy of Faith:
My grandmother, Vivian Allen, was a force to be reckoned with. A resident of Newark, New Jersey, she possessed a powerful blend of outspokenness, aggression, humor, and kindness. One memorable instance involved her accusing a fruit vendor of hiding bad peaches at the bottom of the box. To prove her point, she proceeded to dump the entire box out, ensuring she got good ones!Her faith was a tapestry woven from various threads. Raised with Baptist traditions, she also held spiritualist beliefs. Stories abound of the extraordinary in their family: great-grandmother levitating a table, great-aunt conversing with her deceased husband, and even a neighbor's chimney struck by lightning during a Ouija board session.
A pivotal moment arrived with the visit of a Colporteur selling religious books. My grandmother, ever the inquisitor, bombarded him with questions about death and the afterlife. His Bible-based answers resonated with her, leading her to delve deeper into the faith. She began attending weekly Bible studies with the local Adventist pastor, a process that took over 2 years due to the emphasis on thorough understanding and study.
Meanwhile, my grandfather, a fireman for the Pennsylvania Railroad, faced the harsh realities of the Depression. Work was scarce, and Sundays, the Sabbath day, often clashed with his job demands. Despite hardships, their love remained strong, even through periods of food insecurity and reliance on cheap, broken macaroni.
A miracle unfolded in the life of my uncle Clifton. Diagnosed with rheumatic fever at age five, which caused severe damage to his heart valves. The physician predictions of his demise by age ten or twelve, his future seemed bleak. However, my grandmother's unwavering faith led her to seek divine intervention through anointing. The results were astonishing. Clifton, who struggled to fit into his shoes due to severe swelling, put them on and ran outside to play after the anointing, leaving everyone speechless.
This profound event impacted my aunt Grace, who accompanied my grandmother to church the following Sabbath. Unfortunately, a comment about the prohibition of wearing rings alienated her, and she never returned.
My father's story is one of resilience and determination. Drafted into World War II, he chose a non-combatant role and served on a hospital ship tending to shell-shocked soldiers. He had a brush with death at the hands of a psychotic patient who tried to chock him to death. If it was not for another psychotic patient in the same room who came to his rescue, he would have died. He used his GI Bill to pursue higher education, eventually graduating from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He attributed his life and success to the intervention of God.
My mother's journey began on a small farm in Tennessee. Despite limited financial resources, their family thrived on the bounty of their land. At a young age she had to entered the workforce. She was unable to go to high school, instead went to work at a shirt factory and then as a "Rosie the Riveter" during World War II. She save enough money to return to school. She completed high school in a year and a half and eventually pursue her education at Pacific Union College and Loma Linda. She graduated from Loma Linda University school of nursing with a BS degree. She was a member of the Seventh-day Church of God . She work and paid her own way the all her schooling. Robert Olsen gave her Bible Studies while at Pacific Union College. There she became a seventh-day Adventist.
Our family's legacy is a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and love. From my grandmother's unwavering belief to my parents' determination to overcome challenges, their stories inspire me to embrace my own faith journey. There stores were a living example of to me on how faith can guide us through life's triumphs and tribulations, leading us to a brighter future.
One day, while driving alone, my left rear car tire blew out. Stranded on the busy highway in San Francisco, never having change a tire before anxiety gripped me. But from the chaos emerged an unexpected act of kindness. A stranger, an "angel" perhaps, appeared and changed my tire with swiftness and grace. This small gesture, a testament to God's divine intervention, nudged me towards a deeper awakening.
The planting of the seed in my heart:
When I went to Pacific Union Collage, a series of events unfolded, orchestrated by a loving God. My academic struggles, caused by my lack of effort in High School, forced me to confront my limitations and seek help. In prayer meetings led by Morris Venden, and through Bible studies with Erin Gain, I began to understand the true meaning of faith.
My response to God’s love:
I repented of my years of academic slothfulness during high school and determine to put away the TV and entertainment idols. With God help I set out to have a daily devotional life and depend on God for academic success. God who to me had been a distant figure become a source of strength, and a guide. I started journaling my prayers, recording every request, every plea for help. This act, born out of self-interest, became a bridge to a deeper connection with the divine. Every pray for help with tests in various class was answered. From a below average student to successful chemistry major, fueled by faith and a desire to serve others. By God's grace and countless answered prayers the path to medical school became a realistic goal. With God’s help I was accepted into medical school.I continued my daily devotions and journaling my prayers though medicinal school and residency. God was faithful in answering my prayers, not one went unanswered.
The cultivating of my Faith by our Heavenly Father.
Through the years, God has pruned away the layers of my selfishness. Marriage, children, and the demands of being a physician have instilled in me the values of giving and sacrifice. I've learned that true happiness lies not in fleeting pleasures, but in serving others and living a life of purpose.
My journey is a testament to God's unwavering love and patience. He met me where I was, a TV-addicted teenager lost in the wilderness of self-indulgence, and led me, step by step, towards a life of faith and service.
Early in my career, I juggled a demanding medical practice, a bustling family life with three young children, and a dwindling prayer life. My prayers became more generic, lacking the urgency I felt during medical school. Success and comfort lulled me into a spiritual slumber, and I stopped keeping prayer journals.
One scripture resonated strongly: "I was rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing" (Rev. 3:17). Like the virgins in Matthew 25:5 who slumbered while waiting for the bridegroom, I felt a sense of complacency. Another passage provided a wake-up call: "God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep" (Ellen White, 5T 707.3).
Seeking deeper spiritual connection, we met a group radiating a vibrant faith that mirrored what I craved. This newfound fellowship rekindled my enthusiasm for God and the Bible. While the experience provided much joy, it came with a bitter pill: their critical views of Adventists eventually forced a painful separation, as they became like family to us.
Awakened from my spiritual slumber, we embarked on a journey of service. First, we spent three years as missionaries in Micronesia, followed by establishing a medical practice in Oroville, California, where I incorporated biblical principles into my practice. We even hired an Adventist health educator to further our mission.
Years later, prioritizing our children's spiritual growth, we moved to Arkansas, seeking an ideal environment for their education. As they entered college and beyond, we relocated back to Sonora, California, to be near our aging parents. For fourteen years, I maintained a medical practice affiliated with Adventist Health in Sonora. In 2018, seeking a new challenge, I transitioned to teaching Alzheimer's prevention classes at Adventist Health Sonora. This thrived until the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and 2021, halting in-person classes.
Now, at retirement age, we felt called to assist Ellen Perry with evangelism in Sierra Vista. And here we are, embracing a new chapter in our spiritual journey and eager to contribute to the God’s work.