The Infidel Farmer

From: Echoes of Grace: 1979

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

An infidel farmer in Illinois wrote to the editor of a state newspaper as follows: "I have a field of corn which I plowed on Sunday. I planted it also on Sunday. I did all the cultivating it received on Sunday. And on Sunday I hauled it to the barn. Now I find I have more corn to the acre than has been gathered by my neighbors during this month of October."

The editor was not a religious man, and the farmer evidently hoped to win some comment favoring his own infidel views. In this however, he was disappointed. When his letter appeared in print it simply carried the following terse editorial observation: "God does not always settle His accounts in October."

The farmer wished to show as proof, that because his crop prospered, and he was not punished for breaking the Lord's day, there was no God to be concerned over—or, if there were a God, He was evidently totally indifferent to man's conduct. What a terrible mistake!

Men judge God by themselves. The truth is that God is "long suffering and slow to anger"; but He "will by no means clear the guilty." (See Ex. 34:7⁷Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:7).)

God chooses His own time to settle His accounts with men; but certain it is that, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7⁷Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7).

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27²⁷And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).

Facts are unalterable; whether a man believes them or not makes no difference; they remain facts. (Read Rom. 3:3, 4³For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? ⁴God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:3‑4).)

Unsaved reader, God is waiting to be gracious. He longs to pluck you from the eternal burning. (Read 2 Peter 3:9⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9), and Ezek. 33:11¹¹Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11).)

God has given the Lord Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for your sin. Christ died on Calvary's cross to save you from unending woe.

Through the sacrificial death of Jesus, sin has been so completely "put away" that God can, in divine consistency with His inflexible righteousness and holiness, pardon even the greatest and vilest offender. Hear once more His amazing invitation: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18).

Why do you wait, dear sinner?

The harvest is passing away;

The Savior is longing to bless you;

Why not come to Him today?

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