Sunrise Over Harvest

While staying in Oregon the past several weeks, my wife visited a local farm in that
area and ran across a beautiful photo of the sun rising up over a pumpkin patch full
ripe fruit. The pumpkins in that photo are obviously ready for harvest time, and
when we think of the season of harvest, perhaps pumpkins are a symbol of that
season. I could not help but immediately give the photo a title Sunrise Over
Harvest.

Such is the title of this message, and seeing the photo captured at the farm
(Baumans, southeast of the City of Woodburn) also caused me to think of how
much my wife loves what Charles Shultz made famous The Peanuts gang. Why,
even our own dog is named Charlie Brown! The specific storyline that fits our
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Sunrise Over Harvest

Harvest Season involves the Peanuts character Linus waiting it out in the local
pumpkin patch on Halloween night to hopefully get a glimpse of what he calls The
Great Pumpkin. According to Linus, he gives the audience a description of a fictional
being somewhat akin to Santa Claus.

My wife is also an enthusiast in home dcor, and the dcor must match the season
or holiday of the year close at hand. During the harvest season, she brings out of
storage a vast array of autumn colors and trinkets fit for celebrating the season.
Among those items is an assortment of pumpkins in ceramic, wood, clothe,
cardboard, and any other medium by which pumpkins can be (or should be)
portrayed.
Although I sometimes muse over my wifes fondness of Peanuts trivia, memorabilia,
and this storyline in particular, and the dcor retrofit for the season, the farm photo
also caused me to reflect on what the scriptures have to say about harvest, and
what the Holy Spirit may be saying about the subject at this moment. In fact, I am
quite certain that it was the Holy Spirit who, with immediacy, dropped those three
words Sunrise Over Harvest into my heart and mind the very moment that I first
saw the photo!
As if it were a sign or a confirmation that these thoughts indeed were God-inspired;
while preparing this message, I also received a letter (fall update) from our
Assemblies of God district superintendent which directly cited the subject of the
much needed spiritual harvest in Alaska. In fact, his brief letter mentions two

Sunrise Over Harvest

scripture passages that I had already begun some personal study and
contemplation over:
Luke 10:2

He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into
his harvest field.

Jeremiah 8:20

The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not
saved.

Both of these passages in many respects are quite sobering, especially when
considered together. To understand that we as believers are workers in Gods
harvest of souls also means that we understand that the harvest season is not
perpetual. The season has a length, and there comes a time when taking in the
harvest needs to occur. It is, after all, His harvest!
To be sure, some of us have planted , some of us have watered, and God has been
preparing the harvest (I Corinthians 3:6-9). But when the harvest has past,
heartbreaking it is that anyone is not saved! To think that this may have (or could
have) been prevented had there been more than just a few workers, its doubly
heartbreaking! Add to this the possibility that the current workers are apathetic
about the grave need at hand, and the whole situation can seem overwhelming
even perplexing.
Proverbs 10:5

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who

sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

I tend to be one who prefers not to brow-beat the sons and daughters of God.
Purposely placing a guilt-trip on the sheep of the Good Shepherds fold is not my
place. But consider for a moment, if you will, what the Holy Spirit may be saying to
us specifically with this message title. I have been. Of particular interest is that not
only is harvest the subject matter, but there clearly is a sunrise over that harvest.
Everyone knows that the sunrise signifies the beginning of the day. It means that
although the night is coming, when no one can work (John 9:4), it also means
that there still is time, and that there is a new dawn over the harvest. I for one am
so thankful that it is a sunrise over the harvest rather than a sunset. Make no
mistake someday there will be!
Long ago, in the aftermath of the flood, God made a promise to (a covenant with)
Noah and for that matter, all of creation. We tend to first think of the sign (symbol)
of the rainbow and that the earth would never be flooded again as at that time.
However, God also made a promise to all of creation that perhaps has significance
here:
Genesis 8:22
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,
winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.
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Sunrise Over Harvest

I am reminded that as long as the earth remains, and as long as there continues to
be sunrises and sunsets, seedtime and harvest also shall not cease. I believe that
this is not only true in the physical realm, but also in the spiritual. This is Gods
promise, not mine. Yes, there will come a time when the opportunity for spiritual
harvesting is gone. That time has not yet come. Right now, and not just figuratively
but literally, I believe that there is a sunrise (a new dawn) over the spiritual harvest.
Because The Holy Spirit currently is taking this deep into my soul and confirming
these three words to me, Sunrise Over Harvest, somehow I sense that the message
is specific to our location, and even to those entrusted to my care or influence.
Perhaps it is also to those who somehow will encounter this message later on. The
Holy Spirit is faithful to speak and confirm His Rhema word in due season; fall or
otherwise. Dare I say that these three words hold a prophetic tone? I believe that
they have for me.
Will you believe with me that the LORD is telling us that this is a new day dawning
on a harvest of souls in our area? Will you believe with me that it is not too late for
so many that we encounter regularly? Will you ask, with me, that the LORD of the
harvest will continue to send forth workers into His harvest field? If you be a current
worker yourself, will you ask Him also to revitalize us and prepare us for the soul
harvest that is definitely ahead, and to forgive us for any apathy and indifference
we may have exhibited in the past? He is so merciful, and wants all people to come
to a knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:4)
Right now, figuratively speaking, the sunrise is over the harvest. At dawn (first
light), we may not see as clearly or keenly as we would like. The light is dim. We
may see enough to just make out the outline of things, but distinctive features are
yet unseen. This is always the case. But the sun is rising. It will only continue to rise.
It always has. It will continue to rise over the harvest. We will soon come into that
part of the day when the visibility is at a premium. I believe that we will begin to see
more clearly the harvest at hand with our spiritual vision. At midday the shadows of
impossibility will be anything but noticeable. Perhaps our spiritual awareness will
have finally peaked. Perhaps in due time we will adopt new symbols of harvest. I
have a hunch that pumpkins just wont suffice.
Lets not miss this grand opportunity before us, to be a part of the harvest of souls
in our personal lives and spheres of influence village, neighborhood,
acquaintances, friends & family. The celebration of this harvest will be unlike any we
have ever encountered - To God be the glory!
For further study:
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Isaiah 60:1-3
Isaiah 58:8
Proverbs 4:18
Mark 4:29
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