Two women from Canada made a trip to the South American country of Ecuador and began visiting some of the cathedrals and other old buildings. They enjoyed looking at the Spanish architecture of an earlier time.
There was an admission fee to one old building. Since they had changed their own money into Ecuadorian money, they each handed over a 50-cent silver coin to the attendant. She took the coins out into the courtyard and let them drop, one at a time, onto the flagstones. One coin made a definite “ting” sound, but the other just fell plop on the stone.
The attendant returned, and handed the coins back. One was a counterfeit, and apparently she didn’t trust two women who were trying to pass false coins. Both coins had looked exactly the same to the two visitors, but only one coin had the ring of truth to it. The other coin was a “pretender” and had to be thrown away.
The Bible tells us about something else that looks like the real thing but is only a “pretender.” It is a plant called “tares” and grows up among wheat. It looks and grows like wheat, right up until the heads of grain start to form, and then the tares are found out. Not only do they not produce grains that can be used for food, but if the tare seeds are ground into flour along with the wheat seeds, that flour can cause sickness. Tares are good only for burning.
The Lord Jesus talked about wheat and tares and how the wheat is like the true children of His kingdom and the tares are “pretenders” who will eventually be separated and cast away from His presence. He said, “Gather ... together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn” (Matthew 13:3030Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13:30)).
Boys and girls, it is very important to make sure you belong to the Lord Jesus, that your sins are forgiven and your name is written in His Book, so that you will never hear the awful words, “I never knew you: depart from Me” (Matthew 7:2323And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)). Jesus gave us these parables because He loves us and is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)). Make sure you have come to the Lord Jesus and have “the ring of truth,” so that you will not be bundled with the “pretenders” to be burned.
ML-09/20/2009