The Harvest is Rotting

Fall is my favorite season. I love to watch football, watch the thermometer drop a little, and watch the harvest come in from the field. This past week I went out early to help with the Hayride event. Little did I know that I would also be helping Jeff Sims, a farmer, around his farm. I enjoyed it so much though. I did grow up in the country after all and their is nothing like seeing all that golden harvest come into the grain bin. Jeff needed to keep working that day because, as he puts it, he only he has a limited window. The grain only has a certain time to pick it, then it becomes rotten, worthless. That is why a farmer is willing to put in the long hours, get up early, and push himself to get all the harvest in. He knows he only has a small window to get it all done.

I have to admit I don't remember a whole lot of sermons but I will never forget one my youth pastor told us when I was a senior in high school. It was the fall season, just like it is now, and he took us near one of the corn fields. He then begin to share a scripture with us. It is from John 4:35, it says, "Do not say, "Four months more and then the harvest"? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe with for harvest."(NIV) When Jesus made this statement he was looking at a group of people with his disciples. He was telling them we cannot wait we need to tell these people about me. 

Jesus is telling us the same thing. Do not wait! The harvest is white and ready for harvest. It has been so cool to be a part of my small group, Just Walk Across the Room. It has really re-opened my eyes to the ripe harvest out there. People all around us are crying out in desperation for more. They know that something in their life is missing and they can't figure it out. They are at our work place. They are at the super market that we go to. They are our neighbors, our friends, our family, people all over this world that are ripe for the harvest. We are the workers of the field and God has called us all to the harvest field to share about his son Jesus.

All it takes is a warm smile, a friendly comment, a helpful gesture, to make a difference in someones life. We all need to be pursuing someone for God. I think the best way to do that is by showing them that you truly care about them with friendship. This will a lot of times open the doors for the gospel to be shared. I could talk about how to reach others all day, but the biggest thing is that we need to open up our eyes and ask God where is the harvest field. We may only have a small window to speak into their lives. We cannot allow this harvest to rot. We have to take advantage of the situations that God places in our lives. 

So this fall every time you pass a field remember that the harvest is ripe and ready and God is calling you to reach those people. Don't let the harvest rot. Don't allow the opportunities to slip past you. Just like that farmer has a fervency about him in his work because of the short window, we to should be fervent in reaching others for God. I think the first step is seeing the ripe field. Ask God to show you people that are ready to here the gospel and you will be surprised how many people need Him. It is not hard to find people once you open your eyes. Then ask God how you are to reach those people. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matt. 9:37). Commit to being a harvest worker for God. He will lead and direct you. Don't allow the harvest to rot.