The Bible, in Matthew 13, tells the story a farmer who plants his field, and others notice tares growing in the rows.
Tares are usually interpreted as the plant darnel. It's poisonous to humans and tends to intertwine itself around stalks of wheat so that eradication is virtually impossible without damaging the intended crop. Therefore, it is usually separated at harvest time to be burned.
Jesus, who tells the parable, explains that the enemy plants bad seed to poison His Kingdom. You see, just as darnel looks so much like wheat, so also are many enemies in the church today. They know the right words, react correctly, and it is virtually impossible to separate them from those who have a close personal relationship with Him.
But when harvest time comes, Jesus states that His angels will separate the real from the impostors, and the impostors will be burned in the fire.
Do not set your sights on outward signs to determine a person's walk with God, but seek their heart. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak.
Neither tongues, miracles, signs nor eloquent speech are marks of a spiritually led man or woman.
Certain fruits will develop in a person's life. Become a fruit inspector, and pray that God will change those "tares" into true fruit for the Master.
The Rev. Richard Helms serves at Miracle Acres Ministries, 3187 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HELMS: Christians are a lot like these weeds among wheat