Time is Running Out

Matt 13: 24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your fi...eld? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of Heaven that is within here. Each person is the "field" where the good and bad seed was sewn. I specifically refer to the individual meaning here. Each person was sewn with God's perfect seed, and then the enemy came and sewed his evil corrupt seed. Each person has the potential to be evil and to be good. Most of us split our time between the two--we can't help it.

I've noticed, though, that it is getting extremely easy to tell the difference between the people who reject the good God seed and the people who reject the evil demon seed. Like in the parable, the difference between a mature tare and a mature wheat is obvious--tares stand straight and proud while wheat are bent low from the burden of their fruit. People who embraced the evil seed and rejected the good stand tall and proud, do not repent for their cruelty, openly reject God and pursue meaningless worldly constructs like physical beauty, worldly wealth, worldly power, etc. Their lives are consumed with self-worship. Meanwhile the wheat, people who embraced God, are heavily burdened, humbled, stooped, afflicted, bent low with the weight of the spiritual fruit, which often causes rejection from their family members, ridicule from the world, and unceasing attack from the enemy.  

Spiritual fruit is not, like churches say, leading people to God by going door to door and telling them about Christ. Spiritual fruit is the desire not to sin, something impossible for unbelievers. Spiritual fruit is the open and public, persistent rejection of the delusions the world indulges in (i.e. porn is harmless, politics can save anything, there are no conspiracies, evil isn't in charge, and even worse and stupider ones). Spiritual fruit is the dedication to the truth despite the attacks that come from it. Spiritual fruit is the persistence of telling others that time is short despite their sometimes violent reprisals. Spiritual fruit is the persistent dedication to Jesus as the only way when it has suddenly become popular to reject Him. And other things. This is not a complete picture.

Spiritual fruit is heavy and bows the believer's head low in humility, bows our heads low in complete submission and surrender to God.

And here is how you know the harvest is near. It is easy to tell the difference between the wheat and the tares. When the plants are young, they look the same. It is only in maturity that you can tell one from the other. And when the stalks are mature, the harvest is imminent.

Jesus said at the harvest the tares would be removed first and thrown into the fire. So whatever is left of sin in believers will be removed and thrown into the fire so the Kingdom can bloom within as it is meant to. Whatever is left of goodness in people who embraced evil will be harvested, and the rest will be thrown into the fire. If a person embraced evil (not to choose is choosing evil, btw) and there is no fruit in them, they will be thrown wholly into the fire and consumed for once and for all.

Meanwhile those who became fruit-bearers will be harvested, too, relieved of their heavy burden and live with the Lord forever.
 
Everyone is sewn with the potential for either choice. No one has an excuse. The crops are ready. People say, "They've been saying that all along, since the disciples, what makes now different? The end isn't here, you're crazy." The Bible said that's what people would say, so it is just fulfilling prophecy for people to believe that.

But it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter that people thought the harvest was ready in the disciples' times, or in the 1800's, or in the last century, or now. God is so amazing and vast and unfathomable, and I can imagine that every time people believed it was the end, it was--for that generation. It has been the end since Jesus, really, and the enemy has probably tried more times than we know to bring his false Christs into power. The harvest happened back when people thought it did, but life still went on. Do you think God couldn't do it this way?

I'm just theorizing, though, but really it doesn't matter what happened before. It doesn't matter because all that matters is now. All that matters is you. Your choice. You, by yourself, individually, are enough of a reason for God to allow life to go on despite multiple harvests in times past. What are you? Are you a wheat or a tear? God's mercy is so incredible that He has allowed you more time to choose, despite the fact that we are slated for destruction (innocent blood, remember?) Is your head bent low with the fruit you bear for the Lord, or are you tall, proud, arrogant, thinking somehow you are great or that you don't need God or that God is a nice afterthought, but doesn't really matter to your life? Are you living for yourself and vain worldly pursuits, or do you sew to the Lord anew every day, repenting of your sins and waiting for the day when you are done with sin and can cast off the chaff and filth of this world? Are you waiting eagerly for the Lord's return, no longer tied to the world by care for any perishable thing, or are you busy pursuing its wealth and pleasure and useless baubles? There is still a little time to choose and bear fruit for the Lord and avoid the fire. This late in the game it will cost you everything and quickly, but what it will cost you does not compare with what you will gain.

There is no more choosing at the harvest. The door will not always be open. Time will run out.