Admittedly Steve, there is a joyful glee inside of me when I read that you are actually contemplating Scripture. You are very wise to ponder as to what is being said to us in the Word.I am humbly trembling as to not fail you with an incorrect/unacceptable answer that pushes you away from more inquiry into God's Word. With kid gloves let me try.
"So, then, who is the sower? Is he not god (or Jesus)?" I believe it is us, as Christians. ** This is really incorrect since the sower is Christ (Matthew 13:37) Yes Jesus is the husbandman, we are "like" the sower, although Jesus gets all the credit. We are to plant the seeds of salvation into the hearts of men. We are told to preach the word in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2).
1 Corinthians 1:17 "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect."
Colossians 1:28 "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"2 Corinthians 4:5 "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake."
But if I preach the wrong Gospel to you it is I who is in grave danger. I am held accountable.
Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
But we must not put the cart before the horse, so to speak, and preach the Gospel to an unrepentant heart. We must till that soil and get it ready. Prepare that soil for the seed of Salvation.
Matthew 7:6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."
If that prepared heart is ready, that pliable clay can be molded (Romans 9:20-21)
This is one of the main reasons why I don't give the Gospel to you guys that are non-believers. You would throw that Gospel into my face but if you actually showed signs of understanding then I would, then and only then. First you have to understand how you have broken God's Law and broken His Commandments. If you have broken just one of His Commandments then you will spend eternity in Hell for breaking the Law. (James 2:10) I have to get you to understand how wicked you truly are, how wicked we all truly are.
If I can convince you that you deserve hell, just as I do. If it actually concerns you that you would spend eternity in hell and your heart is broken and contrite (Psalm 34:18,Psalm 51:17). I would then give you the Gospel (the Good News).
So let me ask you does it concern you that you will be spending eternity in hell for breaking God's Commandments?
Matthew 13:38 "The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;"
So which child do you want to be? You can make that choice right now because I will let you in on a secret Steve. Your seed hasn't been planted yet. Right now in your life, your soil is being prepared for the seed. Either it will be ready or rocky. That is the great part of the sower parable. We have season after season to get it right. The sun still shines. When you die the light goes out and, as you know, nothing grows in darkness. So as long as that sun shines in your eyes we have a chance to properly prepare that soil.
So come on Steve, does the reality of hell concern you?
