The Harvest

I awoke this morning from a vivid, song-filled dream. Off to the right in my peripheral vision, I saw a white-robed man loudly pounding a grand piano, accompanied by invisible stringed instruments and trumpets. Music filled the air while soft breezes wafted a sweet floral scent. I stood at a massive picture window overlooking a vast field of sweet corn bathed in bright sunshine. Puffy, white clouds dotted an azure-blue sky. Something like an iridescent white mist drifted into the field and began harvesting the corn stalks just above their roots. As the vibrant green rows toppled, they morphed into people who joyfully ran across the stubble, arms upraised, clapping their hands in rhythm while singing this joyous song:

Halleluiah to the King of kings
Let our voices and praises ring
To the mighty Lord and King
Let us sing to our Lord and King.

Let us sing a joyful song
All the day and all night long
As we work and walk along
Let us sing to God this song.

Halleluiah to the King of kings
Let our voices and praises ring
To the mighty King of kings
Halleluiah to our Lord and King.

Then, I woke with enormous joy filling my soul. Goodness! I felt as if I'd had another glimpse of heaven. Yet, I wondered why and what it meant. Perhaps it was advance notice for this believer in Christ to be ready. However, it may well be about more than my personal readiness.

Clearly, the theme of harvest reminded me of our Lord Jesus' words about the end of the age in His explanation of the parable of the tares.

Matthew 13:37-43 – He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (NKJV)

John 4:35 – 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! (NKJV)

Luke 10:2 – Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (NKJV)

Church clergy have laboured for millennia throughout the world to share the gospel. Perhaps, now is the time for believers everywhere to roll up their sleeves and wade into the ripe fields to bring in a plentiful harvest. Friends, we need to share the good news about Christ Jesus, for time is short. We must not wait for the minister to share the message on Sunday mornings. Let's not procrastinate or make excuses about being unqualified. Jesus picked twelve ordinary people to share the good news. When they were called, they were no more qualified than any of us, so we've no excuse. It's time, my friends. The harvest has begun. Let's move into the field praising God, while we work to bring in a harvest of souls.

Let's pray: Lord God, make us bold, loosen our lips, and use us to share the good news that Jesus righted all wrongs when He rose from the grave on Easter morning, for we pray in His holy name. Amen.

Let's take action: Let's praise God while we share the gospel in our words and work.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook