Harvest is about bringing in the sheaves
Just a Thought...
HARVEST is when farmers hope to reap maximum reward for their sowing rather than just a weather-damaged percentage of it.
Ditto the hope of consumers reliant on their success.
The inadvisability of dependence on foods imported from elsewhere has been underlined by conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.
In addition, the London-based Energy and Climatic Intelligence Unit recently warned: “With Europe’s rate of warming twice that of the global average, such losses [the ravaged 2026 European grain harvest] are but a sign of things to come if we don’t move faster to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero and bring our climate back into balance.”
Singing lustily about “ploughing the fields and scattering the good seed on the land,” is in anticipation of “God’s almighty hand feeding and watering it.” But with mankind guilty of ignoring said Almighty’s guidance on land care, we have handed control to an enemy intent on destroying what’s made in God’s image. (John 10:10 and Genesis 1:24).
We need change, something previous generations called ‘repentance.’
Over a century ago, the first Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, J.C. Ryle, said: “The harvest of the Lord’s field is seldom ripened by sunshine only; it must go through its days of wind, rain and storm.”
Both meteorologically and sspiritually, this is just such a period. So prospects of ripening?
Well, in June 1972 - the worst year of the Troubles with 479 conflict-related deaths – a long-haired, cross-carrying American pastor called Arthur Blessitt arrived on these bloodied shores.
Blessed with compelling warmth and sense of humour, he further defied convention by wearing trainers, jeans and open-neck shirts rather than black shoes, dark suit and dog collar. To this add an ability to make Christ’s radical, transformative teaching both relevant and attractive.
Result? This dynamic message of hope and light in what were some of the darkest of NI’s many dark days drew thousands of young people - not only to hear him in churches, but also in public parks before finally taking to the streets of Belfast to march for Jesus.
On arriving here he had said he believed that before he departed, cheers for Christ would drown the sound of bombs and bullets.
Just a good line from a media-savvy Yank? No! Out of nowhere, the then-rampant IRA called a ceasefire. It ran from June 26 until July 9, thereby fulfilling – even if only for a fortnight – that seemingly preposterous prophesy. So, proof of what is possible…
He planted numerous seeds, one of which took root in me. And although in my case - as per Matthew 13:20-21 - it failed to continue flourishing, it did not die. Instead, having lain dormant, mercifully it came to life when I realised that I’d never known contentment to compare with when I’d walked for – and, crucially, with - Jesus.
God continues to pursue us, a fact
David stressed by writing these words: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139: 7-12)
In his letter to the early Christians in Galatia, Paul wrote this: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9).
It’s God’s call as to when the harvest is complete. Until then, our role is simply to continue sowing seeds of Christ-like love in the hope that sufficient of those ripen, thereby hastening that day.
Just a thought…