09.13.07
“THE REAL THING!”
Matthew 13:24-26
“Jesus told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while he 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.’ “
Joyce and I enjoy watching the Antiques Roadshow, originating from here in the United States, Canada, well as from Great Britain. From time to time an appraiser will show how some article has been “doctored” to look like an antique. It is actually a modern piece made to deceive a buyer into thinking it was old when it was not.
It is interesting to learn that it is legal to make a replica of an antique object and sell it as a replica. The problem comes when there is an intent to deceive buyers by constructing an item that looks antique when it is not. Many have been sent to prison for this offense.
Most of us have planted seeds at one time or another. We may not be farmers, but like the feel of dirt in our hands and the excitement of seeing the first sign of life from seeds which we had planted. We once had a neighbor who liked to grow tomatoes. He and several of his buddies were in a competition to see whose tomatoes ripened first. One year our neighbor bought a few ripe tomatoes at the store and wired them invisibly on his vines. His buddies were stunned with the sight of these beautiful ripe tomatoes while their tomatoes were still green.
It would be safe to say that each of us are farmers of a sort. There is the time for sowing and a time for reaping. Seeds are little, bitty bits that rarely look anything like the final product. Small black specks can grow into large productive plants.
Wheat, however, is one of those crops which looks like the final product. It is the grain itself which is used to produce flour, or eaten whole as a cereal. The farmer must choose whether that grain is to be used to provide food, or to fall into the ground, die and reproduce more wheat.
Jesus is a beautiful example of this principle. His purpose was not so much in being the end product as it was in dying in order that a great harvest of souls may result. We who have received Jesus as our personal Savior are a portion of His harvest.
It is evident that Jesus desires that we follow His example. We are to sow seeds which will produce a wonderful and productive harvest. The good seeds that we sow are the acts of faith and obedience to His commands.
In my Bible studies I often speak of how often we miss the mark in our prayer life by not resting in the Lord and listening to Him. True communion with the Lord is not all just our talk and our long list of items we desire for God to do. It is so much more than that. It is listening to Him and enjoying His nearness that produces real fruit.
Christ’s love in action becomes our response to His prompting. Doing something good and then expecting Him to be pleased with us is not sowing good seed. It may in fact be weed sowing. Good seeds are sown by our being so close to the Lord and His Word that we can feel His urging us to a particular course of action.
What about those weeds that Jesus speaks of in this parable? Well, it can be doing things that are out of His will - specific sinful activities or attitudes. Weeds are sown when we gossip or express any sort of critical spirit. It can also be doing good things for wrong reasons.
Here is the bottom line of the parable–it is not our responsibility to be weed pullers. There will be a day in which the unrighteous deeds (weeds) will be bundled together and burned. I do not want to be in that category!
The good seeds however, will then be gathered together and brought into the Lord’s barn. That is the group I want to be included with!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
- - - Pastor Cecil