The Good Wheat

This weekend's Gospel reading from Matthew 13 is a parable that Jesus told about how an enemy came at night and tried to mess up a farmer's field by planting weeds in the midst of the good wheat. What he planted was something called darnel which looks like wheat as it is growing and, as it matures, distinguishes itself from the good wheat. The owner of the field instructs the laborers not to take out the weeds until the final harvest, lest some of the good wheat is also uprooted. The field is the world and the enemy is the evil one. The picture Jesus paints is of His followers and those who reject Him living side by side in the world. But as for the final judgment, the harvest, that's left to God to determine who is the good wheat and who are the weeds.

We know all about the reality of interacting with people who are not followers of Jesus at work, school, our neighborhood, and even in our family. But note what Jesus is teaching. We are not to isolate ourselves from non-believers. Nor are we to call God's judgment down on them. Rather, we continue to follow Jesus and make clear the difference walking with the Spirit makes, all the while praying the the Spirit changes people's hearts so they know the joy of the Lord's salvation, and that He keeps us from compromising the faith and becoming like the unbelievers.

But it's hard to be patient when we are either the recipients of harassment for following Jesus or simply see the results of evil behavior around us. Oh that the Lord would return quickly and usher in the new heavens and the new earth where there will no longer be any temptation, sin, pain and tears, and death!

But then we think of someone we know who, if the Lord would return now, would not be gathered in among the good wheat. And what of us? What does the Lord see when He judges our heart?

Last weekend, we had this simple prayer in the message: "Lord, make my heart good soil." This week, we add to it: "Lord, make me that healthy wheat. Use me to bear Your fruit in this world, making me ready for the final harvest. And Lord, transform those who are presently weeds that they too may know the joy of Your salvation now and forever." -- Pastor Schmidt