The Harvest

by Pastor William C. Mack |  August 2, 2021

Well, we finally got all our fruit harvested. The apricots, peaches, and plums are all picked, eaten, dehydrated, and/or canned! God blessed Patty and me with an abundance of each fruit. It was a lot of work but worth it in the end. I know I’m already looking forward to sitting in front of the T.V. in the wintertime while I drink hot chocolate and eat dried fruit. (Dried watermelon is my favorite!) Yummm!

The Church has its “harvest” as well. Having been a pastor for over 40 years, I have seen a blessed harvest of souls. Some have gone on to continue to grow in the faith and became the source of great encouragement! Some have remained tepid and made me wonder if they had any faith at all! Others turned their backs on the Christian faith through immorality, drunkenness, etc. Even though I tried to preach, teach, evangelize and counsel faithfully, the world, the flesh, and the Devil too often got their way. The “fruit” I saw on the Body of Christ that “rotted” through unbelief was discouraging, to say the least!

But, like our delicious peaches, plums, and apricots, the fruit that remained healthy was super tasty! In the same way, those who supported and continue to support the Church with their hearts, souls, and minds have brought the “fruit” of joy (Galatians 5:22) to our hearts. I have wept with those who have lost loved ones as they reassured me that their child, spouse, etc., is in “heaven because of what Jesus did.” (Colossians 1: 5-6) I have seen those in abject poverty give above and beyond what most would consider being a “fair offering”. I have seen people lose their incomes because they simply would NOT compromise their faith! Their “fruit’ is, graciously, not forgotten, either here or in eternity.

While there are many trees that produce “bad fruit” (Luke 6: 43) and that in the time just before our Savior comes again that there will be almost NO “good fruit” being borne (Luke 18: 8), we rejoice that our Savior is with us always (Matthew 2820) and that ALL “fruit’ that is borne out of our souls is the result of God’s grace being poured out into our hearts and souls through the means of grace. (John 15:5). Praise God for His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness that He gives to us through the Word and Sacraments! May the “fruit” of the Spirit continue to spring forth in our humble church and throughout the “holy, Christian Church” until our Redeemer comes again. I’m looking forward to the “harvest”!

In Jesus’ Name,
Rev. William C. Mack