The Fields Are White To Harvest

              As we read Hosea 10:12 quoted below, and we take note of our surroundings here in the Panhandle of Texas, we see that the “…fields…are white…to harvest.”  The cotton pods are burst and white as snow.

(John 4:35)  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.

              The fields are white with cotton, which was sowed a few months ago, and now the reaping is in progress.

              When you and I “sow” the gospel, we might not be the one who does the reaping.  Yet, we are to go out “preaching” to all we find, sowing God’s Word, never once expecting to always reap what we have sown, but we may reap what others have sown before us.

              Most of us expect results at the first door, and at the second, and so on, and soon disappointment rears it’s ugly head, and we comment, “Door knocking just doesn’t work any more.”  I will admit it seems harder.  There are so many things going on: all the school activities, the televised national sports, hunting season, and whatever is going on down at the Ritz.  All of these must be contended with, no doubt.

              However, we must understand it is the Lord’s work.  We must seek His council and allow Him to direct us.  If we as Hosea tells us will “sow [ourselves] in righteousness,” or if we, “walk the walk and talk the talk,” then we shall “reap in mercy”, and gather God’s blessings.  He tells us He will “rain righteousness” upon us.

              When was the last time God rained a shower of blessing on you?  Some days it seems like an occasional sprinkle, or a day, or maybe weeks of drought.  Where do we put the blame?  Probably not at our own feet.  We will proclaim, “I have sure had a hard row of “Bad Luck.”  Another excuse is, “I sure haven’t been blessed by God lately, and I think He has forgotten me.”

              Rest assured, neither Luck nor Mother Nature exist.  Secondly, if you know God, He has not forgotten you.  It may be you have forgotten Him.  We reap what we sow.  Are you sowing your heart out to God in prayer?  Are you spending time in your King James Bible, hearing what God has to say?  Are you faithfully attending your local New Testament Church you know, the one you belong to?  Are you tithing, regardless of whether you attend or not?  Are you supporting Missions, and your Church with special offerings?

              Search your heart and answer those questions from that search, not from your pride, and when you get the answers, maybe then you will know why God has not rained righteousness down upon you.

              “For it is time to seek the Lord.”  Do understand tomorrow never comes.  If you put off today what you can do, you will continue to put it off day after day, week after week, for an eternity.  The time is now, just do it.

Bro John R. E Chastain

(Hosea 10:12)  Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.