THE FIELDS ARE WHITE UNTO HARVEST Garland M. Robinson Have you ever wondered how many people have lived since the creation some 6,000 years ago? Can we even imagine such a number? It was to Abraham that God said, “...I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, [then] shall thy seed also be numbered” (Gen. 13:16; cf. Jacob, 28:14). However large that number may be, it only considers the descendants of Abraham. What about all the other families of the earth? According to census.gov, there are now more than seven billion (7,063,400,000) people on the earth (315 million in the USA). What would the number be since the beginning of time? Only God knows. Regardless of the number of people that have ever lived, each one has a soul “created in the image of God” (Gen. 1:26-27). The soul of every human being will continue through eternity either in God’s heaven or Satan’s hell. It is because of man’s impending doom that “the only begotten Son of God” (John 1:1-3,14) came into the world to save sinful men. It was the Father that “so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Bible is right. It tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). “There is none righteous, no not one” (Rom. 3:10). People are sick, spiritually sick. They are lost and undone in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Notice what Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees who murmured against him and his disciples for eating with publicans and sinners: “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32). The redeemed are nothing more than “unprofitable ser- vants,” even after we have done all those things which we are commanded, we have only done that which was our duty to do (Luke 17:10). It is only through the grace and mercy of God, only through the blood of Christ and our faithful obedience to God’s Word, that we will be saved (Eph. 2:8; Rev. 1:5; Matt. 7:21). How terrible it is to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31). OUR COMMAND IS TO GO Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). This has been our marching orders now for 2,000 years. It is a sad commentary on our part when millions, perhaps billions, know of Coca-Cola or Elvis Presley who have never heard of Jesus the Christ. Since we have the authority to go, why aren’t more going? Jesus told his disciples, “...the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). When Stephen was stoned to death, there was a great perse- cution against the church at Jerusalem. As a result, the disciples were scattered, and Acts 8:4 says they “...went everywhere preaching the word.” Those faithful to the cause were not ashamed to preach the Gospel. In just 30 years it was said the Gospel “was preached to every creature which is under heaven” (Col. 1:23). THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER Contrary to Bible teaching, some today appeal to the carnal minds of people to lure them into the church. All sorts of games, recreation and entertainment are being used. The Bible says the drawing power is THE WORD OF GOD. In Romans 1:16 we read, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation....” What is God’s power? building large elaborate “plants,” “gymnasiums,” “ball fields,” et al? NO. The Gospel of Christ is God’s power. Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him... Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:44- 45). One is not drawn to the Lord by hearing the church is to give away helicopter rides or by getting to see “big bird,” or by getting to play in their new gym. People are drawn by hear- ing and learning of the Father through Bible teaching. The Gospel of Christ is the drawing power! Take away Gospel preaching, and God’s is powerless! WHAT’S OUR PROBLEM? WHY AREN’T WE GOING? Would not the answer to these questions be that we are not obeying Matthew 6:33? Jesus said in his sermon on the Mount, “but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness....” There are far too many things that are put ahead of our work as Christians. If the truth be told, our problem is one of “idolatry.” Idols, however, are not always shaped in human form. Nor does one always “bow down” to them. But just the same, people worship idols. It may take the shape of recreation, ball-games, clubs, boats, guns, fishing equipment, television, hobbies or just plain ole laziness. Selfishness, choosing to follow our own will instead of God’s will, constitutes idolatry. Could it be that Christians today do not love the lost enough to try to teach them the eternal word? Yea, most probably. Could it be that some do not really believe that people who have never heard the Gospel are lost? Yea, some of these too. Could it be that some “just don’t want to?” Yea, getting closer. Could it be that multitudes will say to you, “you never mentioned him to me?” Yea, most assuredly. Why are people lost? It’s not because they have never heard the Gospel. It’s not because they have never obeyed the Gospel. People are lost because of one reason and one reason only. Men/women are lost because of their sins. All have sinned (Rom. 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Rom. 3:10). One’s sins separate them from God (cf. Isa. 59:1-2). When people die separated from God, they are lost for eternity. They are cast out into that place called hell — the place prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). It is a place of outer darkness where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). It is a place that is described as a lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8; 14:10; 19:20). It is a fire that shall never be quenched, where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44,46,48). In order for sinners to be saved/rescued from their impending doom (the penalty of their sins), they must be forgiven —pardoned. In order to be forgiven, they must be taught the Word of God. After learning the Word of the Lord, they must believe it. The Lord said plainly, “...ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Though denominationalism stops at belief/faith, the Lord does not. Matthew 7:21 is very clear, once sinners BELIEVE the Word, they must OBEY the Word. Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). In order to obey the word, they have to know the word. Without obeying the word, they cannot be saved. Jesus only saves those who OBEY him (cf. Heb. 5:8-9). Faith only, faith by itself, faith without obedience, is dead, barren, useless. The inspired James writes, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. ... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:24,26). It is utter foolishness to believe and teach that one can be saved before (without) doing (obeying) what God says. But multitudes are those who stand in the Lord’s face and argue with him every day that they are saved by “faith only” —before and without any acts of obedience. The Lord knew this would happen and answered it in James 2:17-26. He illustrated the point of faith coupled with obedience by using the example of Abraham and Rahab. They each were blessed by God WHEN they obeyed God. Hebrews chapter 11 devotes itself to the same point. Individuals were blessed AFTER they obeyed God —Abel offered (v.4), Enoch pleased (v.5), Noah prepared (v.7), Abraham obeyed (vs.8,17). God rewards those who diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6). There is ACTION involved in pleasing God. Notice these plain passages which tell us what Jesus said to do in order to have your sins forgiven and be saved. One must HEAR the word. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me” (John 6:44-45). One must BELIEVE the word and that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). There are so many other passages on believing: believe the scriptures (John 2:22), believe the prophets (Luke 24:25), believe on/in Jesus (John 3:16,18,36; 6:29,35,40). One must REPENT of their sins. Repent means to change the mind — change your thinking and attitude. Such a change leads to a change of life and action. Jesus said he was come “...to call...sinners to repentance” (Matt. 9:13). The disciples “...went out and preached that men should repent” (Mark 6:12). “The men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas [is] here” (Luke 11:32). “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5). “...I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:10). “...Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38; cf. 3:19). “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). Paul taught repentance everywhere, at Damascus, Jerusalem, all the coasts of Judaea and to the Gentiles, “...that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance” (Acts 26:20). One must CONFESS that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Concerning confession Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). Paul wrote to the Romans, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10). To the church at Philippi we read, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). Jesus told of some who refused to confess Him. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42). Those who deny Jesus the Lord will be denied entrance into heaven, for Jesus said “...whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:33). One must BE BAPTIZED into water for the forgiveness of sins. John’s baptism was for the forgiveness of sins. “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3). The baptism preached and practiced by Jesus was for the forgiveness of sins (John 4:1-2; cf. Mark 16:16). In the first Gospel sermon we read, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38; cf. 3:19; 22:16). Those who reject baptism for the remission of sins, reject the counsel of God. “And all the people that heard [him], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him” (Luke 7:29- 30). Those who believe in “faith only” reject baptism for the remission of sins, therefore they reject the counsel of God and cannot receive forgiveness of sins. They will be lost! Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)? Are you ready to obey God? Salvation is only awarded to those who believe and obey. The writer of Hebrews recorded, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:8-9). The fields are white unto harvest. Let’s all be busy doing the work of the Lord, for the night cometh when no man can work (John 9:4).
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:29:55 +0000
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