As the seasons change, the earth and environment we live in reflect the cycles of the sun. In the US we are entering the days of Fall. It is a time when the light begins to fade earlier and earlier unto the winter solstice. It is a time where the green leafy trees begin to yield new brilliant colors. A time where the juice of life that once flowed freely has begun to recede and the lifeblood begins to fade…
The leaves drop.
The branches become bare.
Harvest has come. The gathering of fruit is upon the workers before the crop is no longer of value. The owners gather an influx of temporary workers to hit the fields in a blitz style to collect the product that will hit the supermarket shelves. Or fill up the bins and baskets on roadside stands. Yes, it is a time of reward for those that have invested, nurtured, and labored all year in anticipation of the yielded fruit.
“…that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)…”
There is another type of fruit that church folk often hear about from their pastors on Sunday mornings. It is the fruit of God’s gospel of faith in Jesus. “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1: 5-6).”
You see, you have a seed of faith that came when you first heard and received the gospel. It entered into your heart or spirit belly and became a living seed. Since that time it has been cultivated by the things you participated in, experienced, and enjoyed. This living seed yielded fruit in every good work that you have done. And there is a richness in this fruit because of the seed it contains, “Christ in you, your hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).”
God is the Creator of the harvest. It is His ordinance of commands that allow for this to happen. Because in the beginning, He set forth a plan and gave it to mankind to rule over and work the fields. “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it (Genesis 2: 15).” Ever since, it has been our duty to manage and keep the earth. We do it physically and spiritually. What we tend too and cultivate is the fruit we bear and share in.
Today, we can see a bitter fruit in the earth. A seed was sown in the night and it wasn’t wheat, but a tare. The enemy snuck in and planted something that has turned disastrous (Matthew 13: 25). God allowed for them to grow together so the good fruit wouldn’t be harmed. But now a time of great harvest is upon us. A time where the wheat and tares will be pulled asunder. The good fruit will yield a good harvest and the bad fruit will yield a bad harvest. Check out Matthew 13: 24-30 for the whole parable.
Then let us join together with Christ as the head of the church and become workers in the field of His Harvest. The reward is OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Godspeed, The Journeyman
Ps. Today's story are the seeds of faith that have been sown. A time of harvest is being entered and God is calling forth His church to assist, aid, participate in bringing it in. Don’t be a bystander in this move. Join in and help harvest a fallen world. Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you (James 4:8). The time is now as the fruit will be healed and made whole!
For todays Scripture go to Colossians 1 and Matthew 13 unless otherwise noted.
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