Gò0dNews for Everyone
Roots and Fruits by Dorothy Teague
I
had the great privilege of growing up in a time when
First Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a
things were simple. As a child, I got up on Saturday
royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a peculiar people; that you
morning and watched cartoons, the ones that were
should show forth the praises of him who has called you out
meant to entertain children, not push a political agenda or
of darkness into his marvelous light.” In other words, we
indoctrinate kids into a lifestyle apart from the one outlined
should be different, in a good way, and stand out in the crowd
in God’s word. I also watched a lot of “westerns” because
by our behavior and actions. We are not the fruit inspectors
my father liked to watch them. My favorite was Roy Rogers,
for others, only God has the right to judge. Our obligation is
the ultimate “good guy.” Back then, it was easy to tell the
to lead others to Him by the way we live our lives.
good guys from the bad. The good guys wore white hats and black hats were for the bad guys. In real life, sometimes it’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad. There’s a parable in Matthew 13 about the wheat and the tares (weeds) being sown together. The good seed was sown by the owner but as men slept, the enemy slipped in and sowed tares among the wheat. The laborers asked whether they should pull up the tares but the owner said not to because it might disturb the roots of the wheat. The decision was made to leave them growing together until harvest and then the tares were plucked up and burned while the wheat was harvested into the barn. During the growing stages, wheat and tares, or Darnel, as it’s thought to be, look alike, and is hard to tell which is which until it matures. This is a picture of the world and how it’s filled with
One day there will be a Harvest of souls. God will judge all mankind as to whether we have been washed by His blood, believed in Him, and accepted Him as our Savior.
Christians and unbelievers trekking this life together. We
He’s the only one who can see our hearts and know who we
look a lot alike at times and it’s hard to tell who is who by
really are inside. First Samuel 16:7 says that “man looks on
our actions. Some morally great people in this world aren’t
the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
believers and some believers don’t act morally upright as
At the Great White Throne judgment, God will decide who
they should. But, as we grow and mature as Christians,
are true believers. Revelation 20:15 states that “whosoever
like the wheat, we should be producing fruit of the Spirit
was not found in the book of life was cast into the lake of
(Galatians 5:22-26)—love, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness,
fire.” On that day, the wheat and the tares will be separated
and self-control, just to name a few. We should be firmly
forever and each will go to their eternal destination.
our faith (Colossians 2:7), as well as rooted and grounded in love; love for Him and one another (Ephesians 3:17).
30 // July 2022
About The Author
rooted and grounded in God’s word and strengthened in Dorothy Teague is a Tennessee native, who resides in McMinn County with her husband, Lewis, on their farm. After completing 31.5 years as a teacher in the Bradley County School System, she is active in her church at Eastanallee Baptist Church where she is a member of the choir and praise team.
