Urgency for the Harvest

Lo Richards led mid-week service with reflection on Jonah and a challenge to all present to witness.  We like to see the church growing, new people coming to Christ, and what are we doing for that?

As I listened I reflected on increasing natural disasters that are happening around us.  Even as we are collecting today to help victims of typhoon in Philippines, last Sunday 81 tornadoes ripped through Illinois, all in one day, unusual for November!

The words from the pen of our pioneer, Ellen White came to mind “The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there shall be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.” (Testimonies, v6, p408). 

In Prophets and Kings (p.277) she writes “these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God's purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.”

Do we recognize that things are getting out of order is not “just because” but there is an indication of last things?  That what we see all around us forecast approaching events of even greater magnitude?

Another paragraph came to mind from testimonies (v9, p11), where talking about end time events she warned the church “The agencies of evil are combining their forces, and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.”

While your attention may be stirred with the “rapid” comment, I am more shocked with the “consolidating” comment. The evil is united!  Evil agencies are working in harmony and unity against good!!!  There is a cooperation of evil!!! 

What about our efforts?  Are we getting closer together to service God?  Are we working in unity and collaboration?  Could we consolidate our efforts, and stop living divided lives?  How united are we in our church?  Are we ONE family?

Reflect on these things!  Those sealed by God’s Spirit will have one mind – the mind of Christ and passion for service.