Ripe for the harvest

Ripe for the harvest

Jesus said,
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.  
Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.  
Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.  
Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.  
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” 
                                     John4:34-38
For the most part people believe in an after life. They believe in a heaven and a hell. Most people however believe that if you live a good life, a life where the good outweighs the bad you’ll get to heaven. As Christians we quite don’t believe it’s that way.
A true Christian believes all men and women no matter how good have the potential for evil. That no man or woman no matter how evil have the potential to repent of their wrong doings.
The story of the crucifixion illustrates what I am saying. Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                                                   Luke 23:39-43.
The condemned man admitted he was a sinner, that he had done wrong. He believed Jesus to be who he said he was, The Son of God and asked Jesus to simply remember him when He entered his Kingdom.
This is the message we as Christians must take to the world. We must remember what
C. S. Lewis said,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                          C.S. Lewis.
Whether we are reaching out to thousands in an auditorium, in the media or to our neighbour next door it is our duty as Christians to present a clear message of salvation to them.
Jesus told us the fields are ready to harvest. Millions of brothers and sisters in Christ have taken the gospel message to the world throughout the centuries.
The Christian message is in every corner of the world. It is our job to reap the harvest of those who have gone before and plant seed for the next generation to harvest.
Question: are you doing your Christian duty?