Weak Start, Strong Finish

In the first century, the objective of the sower was to take the seed, throw it out, and let the wind pick it up. The process was pretty primitive. He just walked out, had his seed in his big bag, reached in, and threw it.

Interestingly, the word broadcast actually comes from the root word for sowing seed. And in the same way, our job as Christians is to go into all the world and preach the gospel, or sow the seed.

We throw out the seed of the gospel to as many people as we can, and time will tell who the real converts are. That’s because sometimes people come on strong in the beginning and then walk away, never to return. Other times, people have a weak start, but they get stronger with the passing of time.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about seed that fell along the wayside, and the birds came and ate it. He went on to explain, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside” (Matthew 13:19 NKJV).

So we just have to wait and see who the real believers are because sometimes a person will make a profession of faith, will fall away, and then return. That is a prodigal.

How do we know the difference between a prodigal and someone who is not really converted? If someone has professed faith in Christ but walks away and never comes back, then they are like the seed that was sown along the wayside. A prodigal, however, will always come home.

Sometimes you can have a weak beginning but a strong finish. What matters is how you finish.