By Evangelist John BJ Hall
My father was the pastor of small churches in Oklahoma. I remember going out with farmers who were members of the church, and riding on the combines or in the trucks taking the wheat to the Co-op. The equipment needed to bring in the harvest was very large and very expensive.
One of the most important things that I learned in those experiences is that there are stages of development of the wheat. The most critical of those stages come during harvest time.
The farmer wants to see golden heads on the wheat. I remember seeing them take a grain of wheat and put it in their mouth and chew on it. They were checking for the maturity of the grain. They can also tell the moisture content and several other factors, just by tasting and chewing on the grain.
Sometimes because of weather conditions they are not able to get the machines into the field at just the right time. As the heads begin to turn white, the harvest is critical. It is a sign that they are about to lose the crop. The nutrition level and moisture begin to go down and the heads are in danger of shattering before they are ever harvested.
Jesus talked about this critical stage when He said, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35 KJV)
The field of men’s souls is white unto harvest. We are at a critical time. If the harvest is not reaped, then the souls of men will be shattered. The harvest once lost can never be brought in to the storehouse.
As Jesus and His disciples neared the village of Sychar they do doubt felt that there could be no harvest here. The people of the area hated Jews and the Jews hated them. For some reason, when it comes to witnessing for Christ, it is always the wrong time and the wrong place! It takes faith to harvest the crop, and we must do it even when the circumstances look discouraging. Especially when the fields are “white unto harvest.”
The Harvest
The harvest is so white,
The labor must be done.
If the harvest is not gathered,
‘Twill wither in the sun.
Who will reap the harvest?
Who will thrash the grain?
Who will grind the flour,
To make it bread for man?
Who will win the lost one?
Who will teach them more?
Who will help them know the Lord,
And make the Spirit soar?
I will do my part for Christ
And live for Him the best I can.
I’ll open up the Word with them.
I’ll share Christ’s love with men.
© Copyright 1995 by Passages Ministries. All rights reserved.
For permission to use this poem contact Passages Ministries.