One of the most interesting times of the year to the farmers and gardeners is the autumn, when they gather in all the fruit of their summer’s labor. The fruit is picked from the trees, the melons and squashes and cabbage are brought in, and the vegetables, such as carrots, beets and celery are packed in sand to keep them fresh.
What ample provision, and what wonderful variety God has provided in food that can be kept in this way for months, especially in climates where the winters are so severe.
The gardener, knowing that the season will end in which he can provide for the long cold months, keeps this in view when he plants his crops in the spring, so that he will have plenty for himself and family, and his cattle, in the winter.
All summer he cares for his crops that they may yield as much as possible. In the autumn they are gathered into barn and store house, and when he can do no more in the winter, he can enjoy the fruit of his labors.
Does this not teach wonderful lessons, both to the saved and to the unsaved? Dear unsaved reader, consider carefully, is the summer of your life nearly ended, the time when God offers His salvation to you? Are you carelessly putting off accepting this salvation through Christ till the opportunity has passed, and it will be offered no more ? O! accept it now while there is time. The harvest may be past to-morrow, and you will be unsaved for all eternity.
And you, dear Christian reader, have you been busy in the summer of your life toiling in the Master’s fields, so that you may hear His welcome words,
“Well done good and faithful servant.”
Or have you been sitting idly by, like the slothful servant, and will have nothing when the harvest time comes ?
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John 4:35, 3635Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (John 4:35‑36).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:5858Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Messages of God’s Love 12/25/1932