The Harvest is Ready Now

The apostle Paul tells us we've been called by God to run a race. Peter refers to this race also when he tells us to gird up the loins of our mind (see 1 Peter 1:13). He's saying we need to prepare ourselves for the contest by reinforcing our belief and trust in the Lord.

We all have a heavenly calling preordained by God. Maybe the Holy Spirit has given you a vision for what your calling is. But there is probably a big gap between your high calling and seeing it fulfilled. At times that gap may cause you to despair and that’s the reason Paul admonishes us about the mind — to remind us of a certain truth about God.

God longs to show himself strong to those whose hearts are completely his. Right now you may seem to be in lack. Yet God essentially says you can do more than people who seemingly have everything: “You may think you don’t have what you need, but you don’t need the world’s resources. If you’ll trust me to accomplish my purpose in your life, you’ll see it happen faster than you can imagine. I’ll do it more powerfully, with more authority — and I’ll be glorified through your life.”

God wants to supply for you what you cannot supply for yourself. Indeed, Jesus tells us the Father longs to double our harvest. In John 4:35, Jesus and his disciples were walking near some grain fields. He pointed to the fields and said to his followers, “The fields are ready for harvest, so don’t say, ‘There’s going to be a harvest four months from now.’ Lift up your eyes because the harvest is ready even now.”   

Jesus’ lesson of the harvest fields declares to all who would follow him: “Now is the time!” He is saying, “There is no waiting in my kingdom so don’t let any excuse sidetrack you. Now is the time to follow me and run your race without hesitation!”