“Let them grow together until the harvest”
Turns out, the farmers hopes for the perfect crop are less then ideal. Both for the farmer and the people who observe his field. The farmer’s field is the whole world. And the world we live in is clearly less than ideal It is simply, just life as we know it!
What is somehow left out of this analogy is those other plants. The ones that are not weeds or wheat. Those, less defined plants, that live between the wheat and weeds. The ones who still have questions and doubts. The ones who have either not been raised within the Christian community; or those who have been turned off or confused by how God's word has been taught, preached or lived out in the field. There are a whole lot of plants, that are not wheats or weed, still wondering in the middle of the farmers well groomed soil.
What do they see as they live within the wheat and weeds. What is it that they observe about how the good plants live and communicate God's will and purpose to the evil plants?
Don't you wonder what happens to those other plants?
One of Jesus points, in this parable, is that God takes the entire crop, the good, bad and those in-between, and hold it all within his hands; within his divine plan for the whole of life.
What is somehow left out of this analogy is those other plants. The ones that are not weeds or wheat. Those, less defined plants, that live between the wheat and weeds. The ones who still have questions and doubts. The ones who have either not been raised within the Christian community; or those who have been turned off or confused by how God's word has been taught, preached or lived out in the field. There are a whole lot of plants, that are not wheats or weed, still wondering in the middle of the farmers well groomed soil.
What do they see as they live within the wheat and weeds. What is it that they observe about how the good plants live and communicate God's will and purpose to the evil plants?
Don't you wonder what happens to those other plants?
One of Jesus points, in this parable, is that God takes the entire crop, the good, bad and those in-between, and hold it all within his hands; within his divine plan for the whole of life.
The suggestion is, that If the servants where to pull out all of the weeds, or anything but the wheat, some of the good plants might be damaged. Ruined for good! So, farmer allows them all to live together until the time comes to harvest the field. Then, any needed, separation will occur.
The request is: don't limit the possibilities of God!
The request is: don't limit the possibilities of God!
We may not understand all of this! We may not understand why "evil" needs to remain actively growing within a world that God has created; and is continuing to create as “good”.
Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
All we are asked to grasp, to believe, is that God is an active God within this messy mixed-up world.
That God is indeed handling any and all situations!
At the same time, we are asked to actively live in the world and all it offers; until the time comes for us to leave the world.
During this in-between time we are invited to have faith! Faith that God knows what he is doing and how to do it. We are to have faith that God is -- and always has been -- in charge of it all. (see John 1:1-5)
Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
All we are asked to grasp, to believe, is that God is an active God within this messy mixed-up world.
That God is indeed handling any and all situations!
At the same time, we are asked to actively live in the world and all it offers; until the time comes for us to leave the world.
During this in-between time we are invited to have faith! Faith that God knows what he is doing and how to do it. We are to have faith that God is -- and always has been -- in charge of it all. (see John 1:1-5)
God is so much wiser then we will ever be!
Our job is to live along side the weeds, wheat, and all the other plants. While being attentive to our own growing. It is up to us to keep listening to God’s way. And, just maybe some of the weeds will begin to pay attention too.
But here is the complication! The but!!!
Does God really wants us not to confront the evil we observe lurking about?
Are we just to ignore the evil living around us?
Are we to turn our backs on wrong? Pretend it is not growing in the field?
Don't we not have some responsibility to counter-act evil? To say a resounding no!
Any comments or suggestions?
...Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.” 37 Jesus replied, I The Son of Man am the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels. 40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 I, Son of Man, will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! (Matt. 13:36-43 NLT)
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