Here we are folks in the beginnings of October and as usual many of us are commenting on what happened to our summer.  You know, it goes something like this:  “I don’t know how the summer has gone by so fast. Here it is fall time and you know what’s coming!  Of course we all know what is coming right?  All of a sudden the first thought of winter is coming to mind.

I remember a similar comment some years ago someone made the comment wow fall here already and you know what’s coming!  But Gary Musson quickly spoke up and said, “Yes, the harvest is coming, praise the lord!”

Of course you can understand why Gary the farmer would respond in that way.  The harvest is the sum of all his energies for that year. To the farmer the harvest is exciting and very valuable.  That difference in attitude was determined by his perspective.  And so it is with many things in life all is dependent on your perspective.

There is something very different in the attitudes of “end time” events from the scriptures.  Most of the thinking concerning the last days are negative, fearful, doom and gloom.  But I remember something Jesus said that has always given me peace, comfort and rest.  He said, “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”  (Luke 21:28)  

Understand Jesus view point or perspective was the harvest of the world.  That is the day when the lion will lay down with the lamb, where God will wipe away every tear.

That was the dream Martin Luther King delivered in 1963 do you remember?  He spoke these words in that prophetic sermon, “I have a dream that my four little chi1dren will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”  Some just classify this as a speech about civil rights but one more excerpt will reveal where Dr. Martin Luther King’s heart was centered.

“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.  This is our hope.”

This speech was a part of our history and is classified a civil rights speech but make no mistake about it, Martin Luther King was delivering a prophetic speech reminding us of our redemption drawing nigh.

Make no mistake the uprising that is going on today is coming from a people that have no hope in God and many are pushing anarchy.  It is so easy to see people as an enemy if you have no hope in God!

We are speaking of the harvest of the earth and our redemption.  James speaks of that harvest in his epistle:  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.  (James 5:7)

Notice God is the husbandman waiting for “precious fruit“.  His attitude is one of joy, anticipation, and love, for his family is returning to him.  For those that are in that great reunion of people their attitude will be anything but doom and gloom.  Their reunion will be a time of praise, thanksgiving, and joy notice the “song of the redeemed” in the book of revelations:  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.  Rev 5:9-10

The reality is when the Lord returns your attitude of faith or fear will be determined by your perspective.  For those who have accepted the saving grace of Jesus and are living prepared to meet the lord there is a joy in seeing the Lord return.  For others it will be a time of great fear.

As for me I am looking forward to the day when there will be no more injustice, racism, hatred, or murder. I’m looking forward and working toward a day when nations no longer rise up against another.  I’m looking forward to a day when all our children are safe in the streets.  Can you imagine a day without sorrow?  I’m looking forward to the harvest of all that is good.  Because of my faith in Jesus and his salvation I’m sowing kingdom seeds and looking forward to the harvest!  And when someone asks about the last days I respond, “Yes, the harvest is coming, praise the lord! Are you ready to meet Him!  Get ready!”   

The scripture says concerning Jesus:  “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom 10:11-13)