Now Is the Time

John 4:35

“Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

Of course, we understand from the context of this Scripture that Jesus is referring to the salvation of the Samaritans. He had just finished talking with the Samaritan woman, and because of her testimony the Bible says, “many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him.” The disciples who had just been in the city to buy bread failed to see the harvest because of their prejudice, religious practices, and doctrinal beliefs.

However, there is a greater principle we can also learn from this story in the life of Jesus. The disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying because they were looking at things from a natural perspective. When they looked out over the wheat fields, it was still four months until harvest. The wheat fields looked like green grass that was about two feet high. There was no head of grain ready for harvest. Yet, Jesus saw a harvest where there was no grain.

God’s perspective of things is so different from ours. Many times we are waiting for the right circumstances and time to act. We are waiting for just the right time to tell someone something. We are waiting for adequate resources before we do something. If we are not careful, we keep projecting into the future what God has spoken to us today, because we are waiting for everything to come together before we do whatever it is God is speaking to us to do. We believe God is going to do it, but the time is not quite right.

The writer of Hebrews warns us saying, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12-13) We see here that unbelief causes hardening of the heart, which inhibits us from responding to the voice of God. As a result, like Israel we fail to enter into the promise because we are overwhelmed by our circumstances.

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “We do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” If we only act when our circumstances are right, the enemy will make sure we never act. We live in uncertain times, but we cannot be paralyzed by uncertainty. We are told to “exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today!”

I want to encourage you today to begin to act on what the Lord is speaking to you. Take those beginning steps, speak what the Spirit prompts you to speak, and begin to do what God is asking you to do. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day of harvest.

Andy Clark