John 4:35-38 Say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields… Many Christians have a large stock of reasons for not expecting many conversions. They are for ever dwelling on the past or in the future, but never look for God's arm being made bare now. The common reason is, "There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest. This is not the time or the man; we must wait"; and in the meantime death doth not cease to slay, and multitudes are perishing for lack of knowledge. Patience is a virtue, but sometimes decision is a greater one. Four months! — have there not been many months? That was the cry in the days of our forefathers, in the days of our fathers, and it is four months still. Oh, to learn the Saviour's words, "The fields are white already"! Expect a present blessing. I. SIGNS OF HARVEST. 1. The Saviour had preached a sermon, and the whole of His congregation had been converted. He had only one hearer, it is true. But the conversion of one soul is a sign that God is going to convert others. The cholera is raging. A physician has been studying the disease. Many methods have failed. At last he hits upon the drug which cures one. "Now," he says, "I shall have a harvest of men, for what cures one will cure all." When Napoleon landed from Elba one man offered to serve the emperor. "Here," said Napoleon, "is one recruit at least." If some have found the Saviour, why not more? 2. This one was at that moment engaged in making more. It was Christ's strategy to bless the men of Samaria through this woman. When this country was asleep half a dozen young men at Oxford felt the inspiration of God, and soon the same inspiration was felt from one end of the country to the other. There is not a plant that grows by the hedge side that does not scatter all adown the bank seeds of succeeding generations. 3. The others were coming to hear. When the fish get round the net surely some will be taken. 4. The persons who were coming to hear were those who seemed least likely to listen. When the giddy multitude crowd together to listen to the gospel it is a good sign of the coming harvest. 5. Recollect the men who have laboured before us. Has all this labour been for nothing? The days that are past have been preparing the population of England. 6. It is a sign of good when there is a stir among the people. The worst thing is stagnation. When people are not thoughtful about other things it is seldom you can get them to be thoughtful about religion. A farm overgrown with thistles is better than a barren one. 7. Old priestcrafts do not now hinder men from hearing the gospel. We can get at the people. If Luther, Bunyan, Baxter, and Alleine could have lived now, how they would have rejoiced! II. HARVEST WANTS. 1. Many labourers. There is no machine that can do this work of soul-reaping. 2. Sharp sickles; such cutting truths as justification by faith, the total ruin of mankind, the Cross, the energy of the Holy Ghost. 3. Close binders. Those who cannot use the sickle can gather up the wheat. Invite people to the house of God. 4. Some to take the sheaves home, and assist to bring people into the Church. 5. Others to bring refreshment to the reapers. Encourage them. III. THE FEARS OF HARVEST. The husbandman sometimes fears that — 1. Through lack of labourers his harvest may be damaged. After a certain time the wheat spears out, and birds will feast upon it. Every hour that men are not saved there are capacities of usefulness that are falling out, and Satan is running away with them. 2. Some wheat may remain unreaped, and so be destroyed. If the Christian does not work, there are others who will. 3. Whether we gather in the harvest or not, there is a reaper who is silently gathering it every hour — Death. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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