The Call to Harvest

One of the beautiful sights around Baldwin County this time of year is the cotton fields that are ready to be harvested. As you drive along our country roads, you can see fields covered in white cotton, just waiting to be gathered. It is a beautiful sight and a wonderful reminder of the words of Jesus in John 4:35, “Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” When Jesus spoke these words, He wasn't talking about crops ready to be gathered. He was talking about souls ready to hear the Gospel. Just as those cotton fields are ready for harvest, there are souls all around us who need to hear the message of salvation. This month, we will be exploring a series of articles entitled “The Harvest Is White,” focusing on our responsibility as Christians to share the Gospel with those around us.

First, we must recognize that the fields are ready. Everywhere we look, there are people who need to hear the Gospel. They are our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and even members of our own families. Sometimes we become so caught up in our daily lives that we fail to recognize the opportunities God has placed right in front of us. Jesus challenges us to lift up our eyes and see the world as He sees it. Every person we encounter is a soul that needs salvation, and we have been entrusted with the message that can lead them to Christ.

Second, the workers are needed. In Matthew 9:37, Jesus tells His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” There is certainly no shortage of souls who need to be reached, but there is a shortage of Christians willing to do the work. In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus gives the Great Commission, commanding His followers to go and make disciples of all nations. This responsibility doesn't belong exclusively to preachers, elders, or missionaries. It belongs to every one of us. We all have different abilities and opportunities, but we share the same responsibility to spread the Gospel.

Finally, the time is now. One of the greatest obstacles to evangelism is our tendency to put it off. We tell ourselves that we will invite someone to worship next week, talk to a friend about Christ another day, or wait until the right opportunity presents itself. However, tomorrow is never promised. The fields are already white for harvest, and every day we delay is another opportunity that may be lost. We must be willing to act when those opportunities arise.

As we begin this series, I want to challenge each of us to look at the people God has placed in our lives. Who do you know that needs to hear the Gospel? Who could you invite to worship or study God's Word? The harvest is ready, the workers are needed, and the time is now. The question is whether we are willing to answer the call.

Always remember that you are loved!

Eric