HARVESTERS

JOHN 10 - 14

I am the good shepherd,

I know my sheep, and am known by My own.

Wonderful testimonies of lives transformed by Christ are freely available on the internet.   The experience changing lives hitherto drowning in the soup of decadence.   The shepherd is leading men and women out of the pit, calling them to follow Him.

Suddenly the recipient of divine inspiration realises the higher power to whom they are accountable and turning to God they receive the strength to fight addiction, violence and their battle with the flesh.   It is a life changing experience and one example of such a dramatic turnaround is Stephen Addison's inspired creation "Box the Crime" available on You Tube on the George Galloway programme SPUTNIK 27th February.

No one is beyond the reach of a merciful God but a casual demand for removal of that mortgage or money to cover an unpaid bill.   I really need money for a good holiday.  A win on the lottery would surely solve all my problems.   They follow the hireling preacher.

God knows the true cry for help, genuine remorse followed by repentance.   Sometimes that nightmare is a warning and He has got your attention.   When you can't hack it any more, hanging on the edge of a canyon staring death in the face.   Then it happens.   

D.L. Moody wrote of his conversion.   "The morning I was converted I went outdoors and fell in love with everything.  I never loved the bright sun shining over the earth so much before.   And when I heard the birds singing their sweet songs, I fell in love with the birds.  Everything was different."

Yes, and Amen to that.   Everything changes, everything is new.  Not only a clean slate but you choose to walk a different path, if your behaviour does not reflect this then quite simply it was a non event.

I remember my "Damascus Road" well.   But I also remember asking a senior deacon at the church a few months down the line as I faced one problem after another  "why is this all going wrong" perhaps I had attracted the attention of a rather dark entity.   My job was on the line the future looked decidedly bleak.  Unemployment and financial problems followed and then I stared death in the face with the loss of my closest friend, the one and only love of my life and at that juncture it could only be described as the "knock out" blow.   I was punch drunk.  Satan does not like losing.  Did I imagine that suggestion "where is your God now?"  So many people were praying for his recovery but that was withheld.    

Eventually a christian friend encouraged my return to church.   We had both lost our husbands in similar circumstances and she knew the path of grief.   A visiting Canadian pastor had found the "Cross" story on the internet and she encouraged the congregation.   I doubt the person who wrote that simple story would ever realise the impact it had. May God bless the writer mightily - I had to pick to my cross.   There are many books by famous authors but often you drown in the scripture quotes and referrals.   This was just a simple story.   My cross was small compared with the suffering in a hurting world.   Get on with it.

Don't be blinded by prosperity preachers, they are hirelings and will answer to God.  The blessings God gives are the ability to endure trials in this world, not a stash of cash.   Hirelings are more likely to deplete your finances at every opportunity to line their vaults.

It's all about saying NO to any previous addiction or perversion and the siren calls of the permissive society knowing Jesus gives you the strength to start again.  NO to habits that displease and offend our heavenly Father.   NO to a despotic society.   

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR NECESSARY BREAD - should suffice and satisfy.

Suddenly you find yourself weeping for the captives and sick individuals, the homeless and those struggling to survive heartless western materialism.   Helpless watching the appalling suffering in the third world knowing that most of what you give will be swallowed up by those that run the charities in their salaries and perks.   Meanwhile a constant stream of starving babies intrude on your simple meal.

Even little children question "why can't I send them my dinner"?   When you are financially and physically powerless to get out there and police what little you can give it merely adds to the frustration.

Those who proudly replace God with SELF consider they have everything they need when in reality they are constantly trying to fill that huge empty space inside with stuff.   They have the designer home, the latest expensive car and luxury holidays.  All idols they happily trot after.   Without salvation are they heading for the "goats" queue?   Matthew 25 - 23

Without a shadow of doubt God carries, comforts and provides for His children.   Sometimes he provides abundance and as long as that abundance is used to bless the poor He will continue to fill the jug with oil.  Jesus gave a stern warning in Luke 16 - 25-31 as to the fate of the rich man.

Many years ago I met a christian widow who worked on the streets of a major northern city.   Her love for the drug addicted homeless lads was endless.   This diminutive elderly widow was physically strong and twice a week in weather foul and fair she walked the streets of the city giving hot soup, tea, coffee, sandwiches to the bodies that crouched in the shop doorways.   She always had a supply of socks, hats, gloves, underwear and toiletries public toilets and station facilities their only means of keeping clean.

Her outreach was motherly and genuine.   She required no recognition or reward for her private ministry, she just wanted the lost to know their Saviour and that He and only He could turn their lives around and give them hope.   Most appreciated her concern but it was not without danger especially where victims were waiting for their next fix.   The drug dealers were also watching her closely.

A young man lay on the pavement outside one of the most expensive stores in the city.   People walked past into the store with about as much concern for the pathetically wasted body as the discarded litter close by.  A passing police car screeched to a halt and the occupants went to investigate the lifeless form.   Deciding he was still alive they left the scene knowing the approaching samaritan. 

The widow knelt on the pavement and cradling the stranger's head in her lap she gently offered him a cup of orange juice.   He was too weak to resist totally dehydrated and it was obvious he hadn't eaten for some time.   As he slowly recovered he told the widow his story.   He wept at the break up of his relationship with another man who had promptly thrown him on to the street.   The widow did not mince her words.   She told him "what you are doing is wrong.  The bible says it is an abomination before God, but Jesus can help you.  You just have to ask"   She said "I am going to pray for you" and kneeling on the cold pavement in full view of the passing public she prayed for the victim.   She gave him a bible and enough money to pay the fare to his mother's house and suggested he stayed with her until he was strong enough both financially and physically to start again.   Her correction was gentle not abusive.   She loves the sinner but does not condone the sin.

How things have changed, today had her conversation been overheard she would have been accused of being homophobic.   She continues to preach the Word of God to anyone who will listen, her energy is limitless.

This dear sister in Christ had a habit of rummaging through books in church jumble sales always eager to find encouragement and comfort for a struggling pilgrim.   During my brief sojourn in the "Slough of Despond" I would reach for the small gems of wisdom with which she blessed me.   They are simply treasures written by real men of God.   Their priceless gift of the written word continues to inspire generations and I thank God for a friend in whose shadow I am privileged to stand.   Surely she will hear the words "well done good and faithful servant"

In his brilliant book "In Green Pastures" J.R. Miller writes:

For you, whatever your experiences, however hard and painful life may seem to you, God's will is the very hand of divine love to lead you on towards all that is good and beautiful and blessed.   Never doubt it, even in the darkest hour, when the pain is sorest, or when the cross is heaviest.   God's will holds you ever close to God, and leads you ever towards and into God's sweetest rest.   It brings peace to the heart - a peace that never can come in any way of our own choosing - to be able always to say - THY WILL BE DONE."

In his article "The problem of Christian Old Age" he writes:

Old age may be feeble - but the marks of feebleness are really foretokens of glory.  Old people have no reason for sadness - they are really in their best days..............

And in a later paragraph:

"They should make their years of old age - years of quietness and peace, and joy - a holy eventide.

BUT THIS CAN BE THE STORY OF THEIR EXPERIENCE ONLY IF THEIR LIFE BE HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.   APART FROM CHRIST, NO LIFE CAN KEEP ITS ZEST OR IT'S RADIANCE."

Paul was growing old when he wrote of his enthusiastic vision of beauty yet to be attained-but we hear no note of depression or weariness in him.  He did not think his life was done.  He showed no consciousness that he had passed the highest reach of living.   He was still forgetting the past and reaching forth, because he knew the best was yet before him.   His outward man was feeble, his health shattered, his physical vigor decaying-but the inner man was undecayed and undecaying.  He was never before so Christ-like as he was now, never so full of hope, never so enthusiastic in the service of his Master.

Perhaps our focus should not be on the train wreck of a fragile body but "gracefully surrendering the things of youth"* we do what we can with our limitations and infirmity.

"The blows of His chisel, which hurt so much, are what makes us perfect"  C.S Lewis.

This world holds no attraction for the true children of a Holy God but until He calls us home we continue to carry our cross and submit to His discipline.  He is surely making us "fit for purpose, and fit for His kingdom.   As the darkness moves ever closer we need to find refreshing and encouragement in the words of the great christian writers of the past. 

Beyond the river of sorrow there is a promised land

No grief for the present seems joyous, yet afterwards it leads to blessing.

There is a rich possible good beyond every pain and trial.

There are green fields beyond sorrow's Jordan's.

J.R. Miller DD

We work with the gifts we have received but especially precious to the Lord are those on the front line who willingly touch the untouchable teaching his commandments regardless of the consequences.

Matthew 25 - 31- 46

40 - And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

* Desiderata
* The Life Story of Dwight L Moody. 
* In Green Pastures - J.R. Miller DD