The enemy sowed tares while everyone was asleep. When we read the Gospels, we notice that Jesus often used parables to explain the Kingdom of God to His disciples. He wanted His disciples to truly understand the Kingdom they were about to become citizens of.

One of the parables Jesus told to explain the Kingdom was the Parable of the Weeds. He explained that the Kingdom of God was like a man who sowed good seed in his field but was surprised to find that his enemy had waited until he fell asleep to sow weeds in the same field.

He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ (Matthew 13:24-30)

Jesus shows through this passage that whenever a person receives the Word of God, the enemy also tries to sow lies meant to disturb their faith. The enemy’s goal is to prevent the light of God’s Word from illuminating the darkness. This is a constant battle, one that the enemy can never win if the person refuses to fall asleep.

For several years, new technologies have allowed God’s Word to be spread like never before. Multitudes of sermons and teachings are available with a single click on the internet. However, we can observe that the abundance of God’s Word online does not necessarily lead to an increase in the number of converts.

Many people are exposed to the Word of God, but very few actually accept it and allow themselves to be transformed by it. I believe that among the many who regularly expose themselves to God’s Word, numerous genuinely want to convert. What they don’t realize, however, is that the enemy lurks around them, waiting for them to fall asleep in order to sow tares.

These people are in a state of sleep when they allow themselves to be distracted by things that don’t contribute to their spiritual growth: listening to secular music, watching films and TV series with content that dishonors God, keeping bad company, indulging in intoxicating substances, etc.

A person who wants to be transformed by the Word that is taught and preached must remain focused on meditation and prayer while avoiding the company of those who do not share these values. These are the kind of people the psalmist refers to in Psalm 1.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)

Guard Your Heart Above All Else

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

When I read this verse, I wondered if God really wanted me to guard my heart more than my money, my children, my spouse, my health, and all the other things I considered important. I quickly realized that God indeed wanted me to watch over my thoughts more than anything else.

If God asks me to guard my heart, it means once again that the enemy is lurking, just waiting for me to fall asleep so he can poison the source of life within my heart. As long as I am awake, he cannot harm me.

Understanding that the enemy prowls around my heart, waiting for me to fall asleep, has made me take pleasure in remaining vigilant. I safeguard my thoughts better than airport security guards at the world’s most secure airports.

I refuse to watch or listen to anything that could put me in a state of sleep. I ensure that my thoughts are always filled with what is true, right, pure, honorable, and lovely…

This text is an excerpt from the book DON’T LIKE SLEEP by Dominique MBOG.

We invite you to read the following article: “NO TREE LOVES SLEEP.”

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