“Last night,” I began, “I was talking with one of my neighbors and we got on the subject of God, my faith, and those sorts of things.”
“Great!” Stan replied. “Is he a believer?”
“No,” I said, “but I think he may be showing some interest.”
“Time to step forward,” Stan said. “Be bold. No reason to wait. Tomorrow may be too late.”
Continuing, he said, “John’s gospel records that Jesus talked about this very thing. He put it in terms of looking to see the fields that are ready to be harvested.”
“Fields?” I responded. “Is my neighbor a field?
“Not only is he a field,” Stan replied, “your whole neighborhood is a field. The whole town is a field. The point is to be open to seeing what fields God is working in and be prepared to join Him in the harvest. ”
Continuing, he added, “If your neighbor is showing interest in God and your faith, that likely means that God is moving in his life to awaken a desire to know Him.”
“You really think so?” I asked.
“Sure do,” Stan replied. “And I know for a fact that God has done that with me.” There have been many instances where God has brought to my attention people He is working with.”
“When that happens,” he continued, “my role is to respond and be available to work with God in what He wants to accomplish for another person’s eternal destination and life on this side of eternity.”
“I can tell you of one instance,” Stan added, “where I did not do what I should have done.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“There was a person who, in retrospect, I know God brought before me for the very reason that God was moving in him. I hesitated and didn’t choose to join God in what He was doing. Next thing I knew, the person was gone. He had stepped into eternity and I had said nothing to him about his eternal destination.”
“Wow!” I responded. “I’m going to give my neighbor a call and see if we can get together tonight. No reason for me to wait any longer.”
“I will be praying for the two of you,” Stan replied. “Be bold before it’s too late. Much hangs in the balance!”
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Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. John 4:35.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of life eternally with you when it’s time. Thank you for those who brought me to the truth so I could and did accept your provision through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank you that you stir hearts and minds to want to know you. I confess that too often I have failed to look in order to see where you are working and I have failed to join you in what you want to do in another person. Please forgive me. And please, Father, help me to see the field that is ready to be harvested, regardless of the size of that field, knowing it is one person at a time. And please help me in being bold in sharing the truth with each person you bring to me before it’s too late. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Are you prepared to step into eternity to be with God forever? If not, why? If you are, can you point to a specific person who was instrumental in that? If you can point to such a person, think about where you would be if that person had not responded to God’s call to include you in the harvest. Are there people in your life who are not believers but are part of a “field” that is ready for the harvest? If so, are you willing to be part of the harvest? Why or why not? If you are not so willing, have you checked with God to see if that agrees with what He wants?
Waiting for the Train 