One of the greatest deceptions a man can fall prey to is to believe that the absence of God’s immediate judgement is proof that sin will not be judged. Individually and corporately this is a very dangerous place to be. May the Lord break-up the fallow ground of our hearts that we may never find ourselves standing on such perilous grounds.
Matthew 13:24-40 shatters the treacherous lie that God will not judge sin — especially in the church of God for which He has placed Jesus as the head.
In these passages Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a Master who sent his men out to sow good seed in his field. But, late at night an enemy (the devil) snuck in and sowed weeds among the wheat. The following morning, when the men awoke and saw this they asked their Master, “Do you want us to go and gather them?” The Master replied, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
This would explain why God permits certain ministries to carry on even though they operate in some falsehood. This would explain why evil practices are conducted in the very house of God by the very people who wear the name of Christ.
This passage of scripture tells us that in the church there will be “weeds” who have been strategically placed in the house of God. They are, according to these verses, children of the devil and they will grow alongside the children of God. Though it might be difficult to discern who is who, we can be certain, as Matthew Henry states that, “whatever is amiss in the church, we are sure it is not from Christ.”
Given the terrible judgement that awaits them — they will be bound in bundles and burned, let us take heed as to how we conduct ourselves.
Let us repent from our sin. For now, judgement is withheld for the sake of the elect. But, a time will come when the judgement and terror of the Lord will be unrestrained.
Very timely warning, Christina! because, “in due time their foot will slip.” Deut 32:35
“The reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God’s appointed time is not come… There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God… The use of this awful subject may be for awakening unconverted persons in this congregation…
There is hell’s wide gaping mouth open; and you have nothing to stand upon, nor any thing to take hold of, there is nothing between you and hell but the… power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up.” Jonathan Edwards
Blessings!
Hi Petra,
I was just on your FB page watching the Piper video on Prosperity Preaching. I’ve seen it before but nevertheless…it is sobering all the same.
Thank you for the Edwards quote. Talk about perspective…
Have a beautiful day in the Lord!
Amazing, Christina! That’s an enlivening word, that gives balm to my heart.
I love you!
Mrs. Fofartha
This is such an important message Christina!
It simply boggles my mind to think of all the PASTORS and close personal friends we have known over the years who served Christ and led people to Him that later totally denied the faith! And many of the people they led to Christ are still following Him!
We are told to examine ourselves to see if we’re in the faith and one of the evidences is holy living.
Do we grieve over our sin and failures and seek to turn from them or do we excuse them?
Do we hunger for God’s Word or is it merely a boring duty?
Do we love the brethren, or merely tolerate them?
Are we jealous for God’s Truth or do we ignore heresy?
Are our greatest treasures here on earth, or are they eternal?
When we start slipping in these and other areas, even just a little it’s time to snap to it lest WE find ourselves being bundled up for the fire!
Thank you for this dear sister!
Love you!