Fall Harvest- Part 2

Exodus 23:16, “The Lord said, ‘the Feast of Harvest, the first fruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field’.”  

Last we talked I shared some things we can learn as we enjoy this fall the Lord has given us. Let's jump back in with our fall harvest.

-        The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few- Matthew 28:35-38

     We read in Matthew how Jesus compares the work of the Kingdom to a harvest. Many big farms need laborers to help gather the crops. Like a farmer, Jesus needs workers to declare the good news to others and welcome the lost. This was, in fact, part of His commission to the disciples- Matthew 28:18-20.

     The common perspective of Christians today is that we need to do the work alone (volunteer). After all, we are the rare workers who strive to make Jesus known. But Jesus tells us clearly in Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them". We will harvest more abundantly when we work together. In Luke 10:1 we are told Jesus sent out 72 disciples in groups of two. After receiving the Holy Spirit, we see the apostles working in teams. As Christians we should be willing to work together, engaging as a team in the Lord's work.

     With this world falling more and more to satans schemes the workers are surely becoming few. Our prayers should be that there are more workers to proclaim the good news of Christ. We should also be willing to stand up and say, ‘Here I am Lord, send me’.

-        Feasting is an act of praise- Psalm 63:5

     One of the hallmarks of the fall harvest is the act of celebration. There are fairs with rides, agricultural competitions, and other festivities. These are usually accompanied by things to do with apples or pumpkins; some even include stew or soup to warm up our bodies. If you notice, regardless of the celebration, food is usually involved. Even now, in a couple of weeks our country is about to have a big celebration where lots of food is involved. 😊

     In the Bible feasts usually took on more meaning, but there was always food involved. These times were meant to mark a special occasion or share as a time to remember. Today, we still celebrate with other Christians, moments to remember like Christmas or Easter.

     Did you know that when we celebrate with a feast of gratitude to the Lord it is an act of praise. We take time to remember the goodness of the Lord and how He provides for us. Each year families gather for Thanksgiving, doing just this. The best feast is yet to come, the time we will gather together with Jesus- Revelation 19:6-9.

     It may look like common traditions with the roasted corn, sliced pumpkin pie, turkey, or a great harvest but when we gather with others to give thanks it becomes a God honoring feast. An act of praise that points to the joys of eternity.

-        Harvesting provides a picture of what will happen at Jesus’s return- Revelation 22:12

     In Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus tells the story of a man who sowed good seed but an enemy mixed weeds among the good seeds. Not wanting to harm the growing wheat the man told his servants to wait until harvest, then they would separate the weeds from the wheat and burn the bad.

     This parable was used to describe the time when Jesus returns. He will send His angels to sift through the good and bad separating the wicked from the righteous- Matthew 13:40-41, 49. A division between believers and unbelievers like the wheat and weeds.

     Each harvest on earth with good crops and bad ones, we get a mini picture of Christ’s return. It may feel that the evil one is winning the battle as seeds of evil seem to be flourishing, but the weeds will not endure. On the day of harvest (Christ’s return), everyone will know who belongs to Christ, as they will be gathered for His glory. Like the weeds that will be burned, those who are unbelievers, those who follow satan will perish. Victory is in Jesus!

     The process of farming serves as a metaphor for spiritual life- you reap what you sow. Our actions have consequences. When we sow in the spirit it leads to everlasting life. Sowing for the world leads to destruction. Like the patience of a farmer, we must be patient for the harvest and not grow weary of doing good. The metaphor of harvests also teaches us to actively participate in God's work, gathering others for eternal life. Harvest time signifies God's provision but also reminds us that there will be judgment at the proper time.

     What kind of seeds are you currently sewing through your daily actions and attitudes? How can you cultivate gratitude for God's provisions, even in times of drought and harvest, when time is still far off? The call has been put out, will you respond today, ‘Here I am Lord send me’.

     Wishing everybody a very happy Thanksgiving 2025! May you already have had many blessings this year and have more blessings to come before the year is over. Hopefully you will be able to spend time with family and friends and just enjoy the plentiful harvest that the Lord has provided this year. God bless!

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