“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers but threw the bad away. So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mathew 13: 47-52
The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed
Have you ever thought of the Kingdom of Heaven as a person who sows good seeds? That person can be you. You can be that woman or man who brings down the Kingdom of heaven by sowing good seeds wherever you go. So, the Kingdom of God is truly not far. It is one that you can create around you. This means that a follower of Jesus has a very high stake in God’s Kingdom on earth. This is exciting! But it is also a grave responsibility that brings tears to my eyes, and that makes me want me to leave everything I am doing and just focus on it. Thy Kingdom come oh Lord on earth as it is in heaven! I can keep sowing good seeds despite all odds, all criticisms, in spite of all economic conditions, in spite of my personal needs and plans, and across any geographical location. I can be that man who sows good seed so that the Kingdom of Heaven comes on earth. In this way, God’s will will be done on earth.
There is an enemy that comes to sow weed.
Do you easily think of yourself as having an enemy? Perhaps. I really do not have anyone who is an enemy to me, yet there is an enemy. The fact that I step out and become a sower of good seeds creates some enmity. This is because the evil one only loves to steal, kill and destroy and does not like children of God who are engrossed in sowing good seeds daily. Hence, that is an enemy. The Word of God shows me that as good seed is sown, so is weed sown as well. This is just life. The good sower sows with faith and confidence, while the enemy hides, comes in quietly, sows weed and slips away. Ignorance of the enemy does not help anyone. So, beware of the devices of the evil one (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Sow and Stay Awake
When you sow the good seed, also stay awake to nurture it and watch it grow. It will be growing amidst the devices of the enemy so one must stay alert and awake. I am not to sow good seeds and go to sleep. Sow and stay awake. The good seeds is light and will overpower darkness. But one must be ready to take away the weeds so that they do not overtake the good plants and good fruits. Staying awake means weeding away that which has been sown by the enemy. It means discerning the dark areas in my life that needs the light of Christ Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me in uprooting them. The devil is a liar. I shall bear fruits in abundance, hundredfold, sixtyfold, thirtyfold in Jesus name, Amen. God has promised that he will not leave me nor forsake me (Deut.31:6). So, I am confident that the good work sown in my life will not be thwarted by the weeds sown by the enemy.
A Life of Accountability
Ours is a generation in which many like to do as they please without being accountable to anyone. Freelance, laisse affaire leadership, quick fixes, instant gratifications, and relativity in everything, has created a generation where we do not want to be questioned. This happens at the workplace where even adults just want to work as they like and not get questioned by anyone. In this parable, I see the sower is being questioned even by his servant. “Sir, we are in this together, so what has happened here? Please, help us to understand.” This teaches me that I must have an attitude of accountability; that I must be open to questions from persons who are higher or lower in authority that I am. I must not take any questioning or challenge so personal that it blocks me from being accountable within the scope of that activity. Being questioned is not a personal attack. It takes humility to be accountable. Be accountable!
“…If you pull the weeds now, you might uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest”
This signifies to me the place of waiting on God. When the weed is growing beside the good plant, it makes everything look like there is no progress, no solution, no hope. Yet, God is doing his work through the good plant that is growing. I need faith, oh God, when the farm does not look cleaned up, cleared up, prime and proper. Help me to see that God is still doing the impossible in the midst of it all. Amen. I await your harvest, Oh Lord.
“…First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat into my barn.”
When the harvest finally comes, I will sing and rejoice if I don’t give up, lose faith or give in to a life of sin. Everything that does not please God is being burnt up and thrown away. These weeds must not become part of my life, so I do not get tied up and burnt with them. Help me Lord to resist the weeds of sin in my life and become that clean wheat that goes into the barn of the good sower, in Jesus name. Amen. The life of God which we receive when we get “born from above”, is the most precious gift that Christ Jesus gave us. Such life will not be bundled and burnt up. Thank you, Lord for your love and mercy.
Prayer
Lord, I know I have both weeds and wheat growing in my heart. Help me recognize what is not good in my life and please help me uproot it with your grace. Thank you God for sowing us into the world so that we may be in the world and bear fruit, abundant fruit.
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.
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