There's a lot going on in the world today. In the past couple of weeks we had the Paris shootings, the San Bernadino shootings, and surfacing incidents of police officers murdering African American men left and right. These issues are one of many similar situations that have been going on for some time. After the Paris shootings, I asked God about this incident. Many times we want to know why God allows for people like those involved in ISIS, racist police officers, and crooked leaders to remain in place. God lead me to the parable of the weeds.
Matthew 13:24-29 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’The garden of Eden was a time when Heaven met earth. When God created Adam and Eve and the contents of the garden, He sowed good seed as Jesus tells us in the parable. We all know the unfortunate story. Satan slithered in and tempted Eve first and Adam came second. They ate the forbidden fruit and sin was introduced. With sin came death and a veil between us and God. This is when weeds began to sprout amongst God's seeds.
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
In this parable someone asked the owner why He allowed the weeds to continue to grow? This is a good question. Why doesn't God just get rid of ISIS? Why is it people who have hurt and scarred us are free to live their lives? It may sound crazy at first, but this is because of God's amazing love. Pay attention to how the Owner responds:
‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
What Jesus is telling us is their time will come. The people on this earth who are doing evil things and won't repent and accept Jesus in time will be separated from the wheat and burned. Jesus told us He will come like a thief in the night. But fortunately for us God is extending mercy when we repent until that day comes. If God decided to just yank away the weeds like the servants suggested in the parable, then during the times we were too close to danger and sin we would have been destroyed with it. Not to mention our unsaved loved ones would be yanked away as well. Thankfully we serve a God who doesn't delight in punishing us. He would rather give forgiveness after repentance. He would rather use every moment He has our attention to love on us. He wants to show us why we need to let go of the sins chaining us down and come to Him. However God's mercy is an limited-time offer. As long as you are alive you have a chance to be saved. But the moment you breathe your last, if you didn't surrender your life to Christ you will not be with Him in heaven. By surrender, I don't mean say the prayer for deliverance and go back to the world. Don't be deceived. Instead have a relationship with Christ. If you fall, fight! Get back up and take the gift of salvation you were given when you accepted Jesus into your heart.
Jesus can come at any moment. Jesus can come in the next 30 seconds. Jesus preached more about hell than heaven and He constantly told us to be prepared. Once He comes it will be too late, pencils down. He will examine your life and grade you. He won't grade you by the amount of community service you did, or the amount of money you had on earth. Instead He will grade you based on how well He knows you. Those who are labeled as weeds will be told "Depart from me, for I never knew you."
So what do we take from all of this? There's evil in this world for sure. Everyday we hear of murders, threats, and lies. Not to mention there are people we encounter everyday with evil seeds in their hearts. We have all asked God at one point or another how could He let this go on? Remember what Jesus said. Let he without sin cast the first stone. God hasn't taken them away from this world because of His mercy. To clear the field of weeds now could mean destroying us in the process. By relenting God is showing us mercy along with those practicing evil. He is also going after the lost sheep and saving souls everyday. Let's not get things twisted for a second. No evil can prevail as long as God is God. He is still in control. As we dwell amongst the weeds, we are guaranteed safety by staying near God. We have dominion over the weeds. If we didn't the weeds would swallow us up and no wheat would successfully grow. Groups like ISIS and Islamic extremists are beheading and killing Christians everyday, and yet the church is still growing. Souls are still getting saved and miracles are still happening. Christ is alive and stronger than ever.
Acts 2:17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Today I see videos of children laying hands on people and healing through the Holy Spirit. God is not dead. He is not succumbing to the evil in this world and neither should we. God loves all of us, even the weeds in this world and He is relenting for a chance to save as many weeds as possible. At the same time He is protecting the wheat by giving it the rains it needs to grow. Even with persecution increasing more everyday, we rejoice because we know Jesus defeated death. We have nothing to fear because we are behind a mighty shield--a shield that is protecting in life and even in death.
Praise be to the Almighty God we serve! He is mighty, merciful, and His love endures forever. Cling to Christ in these last days as the weeds continue to grow among us. There's a reason why I captialized us in the title. Let it be a reminder that Christian persecution will come to the U.S.. In fact our leaders are setting the stage for it to take place. Just because there isn't as many weeds in our field, don't get comfortable. I repeat, DON'T GET COMFORTABLE. The weeds may not have fully surfaced, but you better believe the roots are taking form in the dirt. Jesus told us no servant is greater than their master. If He went through it, so will we someday. Keep Jesus close to your hearts and continue to fight the good fight. For the day will come when God will silence the evil in this world.
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
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