“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way” (Matthew 13:24b-25).

While men slept opportunity for good was lost and opportunity arose for the enemy to do his work. The Kingdom of Heaven does have enemies: Lucifer, his minions, sinful men and sin in our own souls. “For many walk of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18). Enemies of the cross, enemies of the harvest, enemies of the Kingdom of God.

We live in the Kingdom of Heaven. In this Kingdom there is seed. Each seed produces after its kind. Good seed, bad seed. Good trees, bad trees. Wheat and tares.

Tares: (Gr. Zizanion; Lolium termulentum; darnel) As a young plant (in the blade) it is similar in appearance to wheat. It is not until the mature head of the grain appears, and the wheat is ready for harvest that a clear distinction may be recognized between the two seeds. Wheat is an edible grain; tares are a poisonous weed.

The Lord of the Harvest sows His field with good seed, but His enemy sows the tares to ruin the harvest and produce death.

While men slept falsehoods and deception were sown into the field. Only the discerning and wise know the true from the false. Teachers of falsehoods use the same words, the same Scriptures, the same Bible, the same doctrines and have the same order. But to gain their objective the meaning of words is changed; the text of the Scriptures is re-interpreted; doubts of Biblical authenticity are planted, doctrines are corrupted and the order is made to conform to trends that are in vogue. Jesus is re-invented with a new narrative, a new persona and a new identity. No wonder Jesus will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23b).

While men slept the enemy worked the field. It is the same soil, but a different seed is sown. Seeds producing discord, hatred, strife, division, rebellion and death. Different seed, different harvest. What is left to do with this harvest? “Gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them” And what of the wheat? “gather the wheat into My barn” (Matthew 13:30b).

While men slept. In the dark of night, the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. While men slept. The enemy works his evil deeds. “For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:7). While men slept. All manner of evil is revealed, while men slept.

Are you sleeping? Are you of the Day? Are you of the Truth? Are you of the Light? Beware, watch and pray, for many temptations and all manner of evil have come while men slept.