I was pulling weeds in my flower garden the other day and noticed that there were grasses that
looked a lot like irises growing near my irises. I have noticed this also in the vegetable garden.
There are weeds that look like potatoes in my potato patch. There are weeds that look like tomatoes
in my tomato patch. There are grasses similar to the corn in the corn patch, and there are weeds that look like
beans in my bean patch. They are what I call pretender weeds. They may get away hanging out with
the real plants for a while, but their actions, their flowers, and their fruits give them away. Some weeds
will try to strangle out the plant they are next to. Others live to bear poisonous fruit or just more weed seeds.
Matthew 13 tells the parable of a sower that sowed good seed in his field, but while he slept, his
enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up
and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said
unto him, “Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares?” He said unto them, “An enemy hath done this.” The servants said unto him, “Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?” But he said, “Nay, lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until 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.”
God may allow the tares to grow along with the wheat until harvest time, but when the end of the
world comes, the angels will gather up men that are tares and burn them in the fire. Matthew 13:41
states, “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things
that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
So what shall we do until our Lord Jesus returns? The scriptures are packed full of instructions. We
grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord. We make our calling and election sure. We share the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
We receive God's Holy Ghost which will lead and guide us into all truth. We study to show ourselves
approved, workmen that need not be ashamed. We present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. As we do all these things, we must always remember to beware of
tares—I mean, men.
Jesus did not commit himself unto them (men) because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify
of man: for he knew what was in man. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets (preachers) which come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good
fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Jesus told his disciples, “Beware of men, for they
will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.” He said that the brother
shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child, and children shall rise up against
their parents and cause them to be put to death, and you will be hated of all men for Jesus' name's sake.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
Paul tells us to beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. What he meant
was to watch out for people. Paul tells us not to keep company with anyone who calls himself a
Christian if he is a fornicator, covetous, an idolater, a railer, a drunkard, or an extortioner. He said don't
even eat with him. Paul encourages us to judge what is right and know the difference between God's
fruit and the fruit of the world. Remember, everyone was born under sin. They are bond-servants of
the devil until they are born again and Christ is formed in them. Look only to Christ and
beware of men.