I have been studying my way through the last chapters of the gospel of John and have become persuaded that I often battle with the problem of being a wimp. I think of it in terms of the summer harvest time on the dairy farm. It is also well illustrated with the late summer and fall harvest of grain out here in the west. When harvest time comes, being tired is just not an option. I have watched these farmers work endless hours due to the fact that the harvest is ready and now is the time.
It really is an uncanny ability that man has to stretch himself to great lengths as he views the necessity of the time. And although he is exhausted the joy and the promise of the harvest will drive him to great measures of endurance.
On the other hand it seems to me that we can also whine and work ourselves into a fit of self-defeat if we loose sight of the true nature of our times and our obligations to meet these times with courage and strength.
In the last chapters of the gospel of John, Jesus teaches his disciples about the nature of these times, which are the times of harvest. There is no, “discharge in this war”. The times of rest and reward will come when our Savior returns.
I have had the privilege of working for farmers during the times of harvest and to see this spirit of joyful and confident endurance. It my personal hope that I will be able to match this spirit and I serve my Savior until He returns. I guess it comes to this, I would rather die in the harvest field that to quit in the harvest field.
Oh, about the “now” virus. My point is “now” is not the time of rest and disengagement from God’s business to seek our own personal pleasures and satisfaction. That doesn’t mean in my mind that we don’t retire from our careers and such, but that we never retire from serving our Lord.
John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
