Journey 2020: Vision For Christ – Overcoming Separation
Parable of the Weeds
24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “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?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 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.’” (Matthew 13:24-30, NIV)
It is truly amazing how God works! When we started our Journey 2020: Vision for Christ, we had no idea what would happen during the first three and a half months year (or what will happen the remainder of the year), or how important keeping our focus on the Lord would be! We are in a period of uncertainty, of change, of constantly changing facts. One fact has remained unchanged – God is in control!
36 Then he [Jesus] left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear. (Matthew 13:36-43, NIV)
God is in control! Jesus Christ has sown the good seed – fulfilling the Old Covenant, and spreading the word of His Father. However, we all have free will, the ability to choose to be united with the Lord or reject Him in favor of sin, which was brought into this world by Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve walked side by side with God; there was no separation. Separation from God did not come until they chose sin. They chose to listen to the cunning words of Satan, chose to reject the instructions of God. Their choice has affected everyone since, for once sin has been brought into the world – like the weeds – it can only be removed at the final harvest, in God’s judgement.
Sin separates us from God. Sin separates us from fully enjoying the blessings of God. Like weeds in garden – or in a harvest of wheat – sin can choke us, hold us down, block sunlight and nutrients, and prevent us from reaching our full potential. That is why it is important to gather with other believers for fellowship and spiritual uplift.
This year, for many, Easter was a celebration held in physical separation from other believers. Few were able to gather in person with other believers and celebrates Christ’s resurrection, but many churches sought, and continues to seek, ways to continue to allow fellowship, from holding drive-in services, to holding virtual services, encouraging all who tune in to join in worship from their homes. Although separated, we can remain connected! For while we are enduring this physical separation from other believers, it is important that it does not also become a separation from the relationship you have built with the Lord.
The ultimate goal of sin and those who sow it is to separate us from God for eternity. Don’t let weeds – or a virus – hold you back from continuing to grow your relationship with the Lord!
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