This past week I've been preaching revival in Galesburg, Illinois, a wonderful congregation located in the northwest section of the state. When you fly over Illinois one of the first things you take note of is the huge amount of farmland, Illinois is well known for corn and soybeans, and for being cold and flat, it's my home state and I love it...except for the cold!
During this time of the year the farmers are harvesting, massive fields are being reaped as they begin to reap what they have sown, grown, and prayed over during the past year. It's awesome watching these men work, the huge combines, the many acres of crops being reaped, sometimes these farmers work deep into the night, doing all they can to secure their harvest.
The amazing thing to me is that each year they sow the same seeds over and over again. Corn and Beans, it may be a different brand, it must be a good seed that has good life inside, it isn't left over from last year, it is vibrant and life giving.
I think what speaks to me is this, we can never stop sowing and seed must always be real, relevant, and refreshing. It may be the same type of seed, our message must always be of God's grace and goodness, of man's need for a Savior, and of God's ability to change one's life...But we can never just serve leftovers that have lost their power and ability to make a difference. The Gospel is good news for today, it works, God's Word works and is relevant right now, we must tell others about Jesus.
In the last month or so two of America's greatest ministers have passed away, Rex Hubbard, a phenomenal television evangelists, one who preached hope and God's love; D. James Kennedy, a pastor in Florida who emphasized evangelism and created one the worlds well known evangelism programs. The thing these men had in common was they saw the need of men through the eyes of God, and they continued to sow seed into the lives of people in such a way that multitudes came to know Christ.
My heart yearns to see people come to know Jesus, to experience Him for themselves, to assist others in realizing that Jesus is real today, He is relevant to their present situation, and He will refresh them in the weariness of their life journey. We must sow new seed for a new season, it is same seed we've sown throughout history, but God and His Word are never old or outdated, they new every morning, everyday He is alive and able to do far beyond our wildest imagination!
Let's tell someone about the Lord this week, testify of His goodness and grace...Sow Some Seed!
