“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20 (KJV)
There are some sermons you hear in life that stay with you long after the last amen. You may not remember every word that was spoken, but something about the message settles into your heart, and years later, you can still recall it.
That is what happened with a message my daddy preached nearly twenty years ago, give or take, from Jeremiah 8:20. I have carried that verse with me all these years: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
On Saturday, as I was thinking and praying about what to write about this week, that message came back to my mind. I found myself thinking about those words again and the weight they carry. The thought of a season passing, an opportunity being missed, and people still being without the Lord is sobering. It reminds me that the time we have to reach others matters.
Then, on Sunday morning, I heard a message preached that included Jesus’ words about the fields being ready for harvest. As I listened, I felt a quiet confirmation of what had already been stirring in my heart the day before. I believe the Lord was leading me to write about something we all need to be reminded of: the importance of sharing Jesus with the people He has placed in our lives.
To understand the words in Jeremiah, we have to remember that God’s people had turned away from Him despite His warnings. Jeremiah spoke with a broken heart about a people who needed to return to God. By the time we reach verse 20, there is a sense of sorrow over what had been lost and the opportunity that had passed.
Those words have stayed with me, but they also lead my thoughts to what Jesus said about the people around Him and the work that still needed to be done.
In Matthew 9, we read about Jesus traveling through towns and villages, teaching, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing the sick. As He looked at the crowds, He saw people who were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew tells us that He had compassion on them.
I love that detail. Jesus saw more than a crowd. He saw people who needed Him.
Then He said to His disciples:
“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37–38 (NIV)
When I think about those words, I wonder how often we move through our days without really seeing the people around us. We go to work, take care of our families, run errands, and keep up with all the things that demand our attention. Life gets busy, and sometimes we become so focused on what is right in front of us that we miss the opportunities God places along the way.
What about the coworker who is struggling? The family member who needs encouragement? The friend who is searching for peace but does not know where to find it? What about the person who has never truly heard the good news of Jesus Christ?
We may not always know what someone is going through, but God does. And sometimes, He places us in someone's path for a reason.
In John 4:35, Jesus tells His disciples to open their eyes and look at the fields because they are ripe for harvest. In other words, the opportunity was already there. They needed to recognize it.
I wonder if we need that same reminder today. We pray for God to reach people, to save our loved ones, and to draw others to Himself. Those are good and necessary prayers. But are we also willing to be part of the answer? Are we willing to speak when an opportunity comes, invite someone to church, share what God has done in our lives, or simply show the love of Jesus to someone who needs it?
Sometimes I think we make sharing our faith more complicated than it needs to be. We may feel that we do not know enough Scripture, that we are not good with words, or that someone else would be better suited for the job. We leave the work to pastors, missionaries, and those who seem more confident in their faith.
But God has a way of using ordinary people in ordinary moments.
You do not have to stand behind a pulpit to make a difference. You can share the hope of Christ across a kitchen table, during a conversation at work, or while sitting beside someone who needs to know they are not alone. You can pray faithfully for someone who does not know the Lord. You can live in such a way that others see His love reflected in you.
First Corinthians 3:6–7 reminds us that one person plants a seed, another waters it, but God makes it grow. We are not responsible for saving anyone. That belongs to God. But we are responsible for being faithful when He gives us an opportunity to share the truth and love of Jesus.
And that is where the urgency comes in.
When I think about my daddy’s message all those years ago, I am reminded that we cannot assume every opportunity will always be there. We do not know what tomorrow holds, either for us or for the people around us. That does not mean we should live in fear or feel that we must have the perfect words for every situation. It simply means we should not keep putting off what God is asking us to do today.
Jesus gave His followers the command in Matthew 28:19–20 to go and make disciples. Sharing the good news is part of what it means to follow Him. We are not all called to do the same things, but we all have a part to play in building His kingdom.
Maybe your part is reaching one person. Maybe it is encouraging someone who has grown weary, praying for a lost loved one, or finally having a conversation you have been putting off. You may never see the full impact of your obedience. You may never know how God uses the words you speak or the seeds you plant. But you can trust Him with the results.
I keep coming back to those words from Jeremiah: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” My daddy preached that message nearly twenty years ago, and here I am, still thinking about it. I believe there is a reason those words have stayed with me.
There are people who need Jesus. There are opportunities before us. And there is work to be done.
May we not become so caught up in our own lives that we overlook the people God has placed around us. May we ask Him to give us the compassion Jesus had for the crowds, the eyes to recognize the opportunities before us, and the willingness to step forward when He calls.
The harvest is ready, but the workers are few. May we be willing to be among them.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the people around us need You. Give us hearts that are moved with compassion, eyes that recognize the opportunities You place before us, and the courage to share the hope we have in Jesus. Forgive us for the times we have been too busy or too hesitant to speak. Help us be faithful in the little things and willing to go wherever You lead. Lord, send workers into Your harvest, and help us be willing to answer when You call. Use our lives to point others to Jesus and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Comments
That is a great message, and we are all guilty of not speaking to people around us about Jesus and what he did for us on the cross . What one conversation could have makes all the difference in a person‘s eternal life Lord, let me not be hesitant to tell of the greatness of God. So what if someone thinks we are over the top is what God thinks that matters.