Result #4: If We Are Not Careful, Our Sense of Time Can Be Assumed.

35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. (John 4:35-36)

The disciples had lost their sense of urgency. They did not understand that time to act was upon them. Jesus, as He most often did, used His creation to drive home His point. He drew the disciple’s attention to a nearby field which was ready to be harvested. To be “white for harvest” meant that the fields were beyond ready. In fact, there was a danger of the harvest being lost if action were not taken. To allow it to remain in the field would run the risk of losing it all. There is a spiritual lesson here for the church.

The time to act is now. In our day, we are staring into the faces of a harvest of souls. There are many today who are ready to hear. There are many today who are searching. There are many today who are waiting for someone to explain how they can find real lasting peace. There are many today who are searching for a sense of hope. We say we will share our faith “someday”. We say we will speak of Christ to our lost family member or friend “when it is more convenient.” We say, “I’ve not been gifted to share my faith.” We say, “there is plenty of time. We are wrong to assume that we have a day beyond this one. We are wrong to assume we have plenty of time. We are wrong if we are not living our lives in a sense of urgency. Satan’s greatest strategy is not to convince people that heaven and hell do not exist. His greatest strategy is to convince people there is no hurry. If we are not careful about missions, we will assume we have all the time in the world. The lost do not have the luxury of our false assumptions.