"Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn." - Matthew 13:30

Have you ever noticed when you weed your garden that you occasionally pull out a flower while pulling the weeds? The roots of some weeds intertwine so much with the flower you just can't separate the two. While there are other measures you can take to rectify the problem, sometimes you just have to lose the flower.

The church can be much the same as your garden. Jesus knew that unbelievers were going to be found in the church. His counsel was to leave them alone until His coming. Unlike the garden, apart from extenuating circumstances, we are not directed to pull them out. The wisdom in this counsel is multifaceted. Over time unbelievers very well might be converted, and during this time believers will hopefully grow stronger and more secure in the Lord.

This parable should alert us to the fact of unbelievers sitting in church pews. The difference between believers and unbelievers may often be difficult to discern on the surface. So every believer should be faithful in their conduct, testimony and witness; especially with the church family. And be careful my friend to consider the words of  2 Peter 1:10, " Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure..."