THE CROSS: A SYMBOL OF DOMINION OVER THIS EVIL AGE IV

Matt. 13:47-48, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.” This is referring to the harvest that will come at the end of time; there will be separation of the wheat from the chaff. Jesus kept on emphasizing this. In the parable of the tares, Jesus said the owner of the vineyard advised that his workers should allow the tares to grow along with the wheat until harvest time when there will be a separation. When we wanted to grass the garden in our house, we invited the gardener who planted a very aggressive grass instead of a carpet grass. This grass was like tares, it took over the entire space. We, therefore, decided to de-grass and replant a better one. The gardener weeded and planted a good one. Unfortunately, the aggressive grass chocked the good one and took over the entire space. That is how the things of this world are. Tares will always want to suffocate the good seed of the word of God in your heart if you allow it. It is very aggressive.

2 Cor. 4:3-4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” The god of this world is very aggressive. When a good seed is sown in your heart and you neglect to deal with the spirit of the age, it will suffocate the good seed. The Bible says when men slept the enemy comes to sow tares. This is the reason why you need to be vigilant. It is not easy to deal with tares. A lot of things will be settled on a once for all basis at the harvest time. It is the time of separation of the chaff from the wheat. It is the time when the tares will be removed and burnt.

Why do people struggle to receive the word of God? Matt. 13:22, “He also that received the seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” The cares of this world have to do with being encumbered and works in tandem with self, ego. ‘I want to be the richest man in the world’. It is delusion to live as if this age will not end. This is the greatest delusion. A story is told about a man of God who had an out of body experience and went to heaven. On getting there, he asked the angel he met a question and said, ‘what is the greatest problem of man?’ The angel replied that the greatest problem of man is that ‘man lives, talks, acts, does everything as if he will never die’. This is delusion. This world is not our home. People are living as if this age will not come to an end. Time is flying. What are you doing with what you have and what you have received? What are you sending to heaven? It is delusion to behave as if this age will not come to an end. A lot of people are deluded. This is why we need to visit the cross on a daily basis. The crucified life is the way. It always keeps heaven in view.

Pray-

Heavenly Father I worship and adore you. Grant me the grace to be heavenly minded and never to be deceived by the cares of this world. Make me abundantly fruitful in your vineyard in Jesus name. Amen.

TO BE CONTINUED……..