Are We Ready for the Harvest?
“...lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for harvest!” John 4:35
How serious are we about reaching people for Christ?
I think every born again Christian wants lost people to find Christ. It’s just that other wants are more urgent and take precedent. This needs to change. But how?
First, there is the reality of hell. The Bible clearly tells us that people who do not place their faith and trust in Jesus will spend eternity eternally separated from God in hell. I wonder how many of us truly believe this in the depths of our souls? Listen to these words that come from the lips of Jesus.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
Then the king said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:13
And then this description of the final judgment.
"Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:14-15
Second, there is our commissioning from Christ. Jesus has given us the responsibility yea, the privilege of taking the saving message of the gospel to everyone. As with all of the words of Jesus in the Bible He means what He says. In John 4:35 he says to His disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” His words indicate that there is a harvest and if you look you’ll see it. About that time men from the city of Samaria were coming out to see Jesus because of the witness of the woman. I believe Jesus was referring to these men when he told his disciple to look and see the harvest and indeed they were ready to hear the good news of Jesus.
No, not everyone will be saved but some will and perhaps at times many will. Our task is to be faithful to tell them about Jesus. It is the work of the Spirit to save them.
In spring 2012 the Lord spoke to me saying that He would bring the harvest if we would make room for them, not just in our church building but in our hearts. Ever since then we as a church have been looking and expecting the harvest. But we also understand that part of this harvest coming in is that we go out and with love and compassion share Jesus. In the flow of life we tell our story of what He has done for us and what He can do for anyone.
It appears more and more that the evil day has come as spiritual deception is increasing rapidly and the man of sin will soon be revealed. Now more than ever we need to get the truth out there for it is the only cure for the lies of the enemy. Remember that “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12 NLT.
May we all ponder deeply the reality of hell as well as the commission we have received from the Son of God and then live accordingly. Your faithful witness could make all the difference...not only in their life on earth but for eternity!
Pastor Dan