I'm looking forward to Labor Day Weekend.  That's when our local orchard starts picking apples.   Although they have bagged apples on sale in their big tent, I prefer to grab a basket and go pick the apples myself.   There's something special about harvesting fruit that has been growing all summer.  Plus, its fun!

      The theme of harvest is found throughout the Bible.   The ancient Israelites depended on a plentiful harvest for survival and the offering of the "firstfruits" of certain crops was an essential part of their worship.  The greatest "harvest", however, is the one that will occur at the Lord's return.

In Matthew 24:30-31 we read:  

      ³⁰At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

      ³¹And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.  

      Throughout history Christians have anticipated that ultimate harvest.

      In the 1800's Henry Alford penned the hymn "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come!”   This song is usually relegated to the Thanksgiving season, and is increasingly ignored because of its "old fashioned" style of music.  That is unfortunate, because the lyrics are majestic and heart-stirring.  Consider the lyrics of verses 3 and 4: 

3.   For the Lord our God shall come,

      and shall take the harvest home;

      from the field shall in that day

      all offenses purge away,

      giving angels charge at last

      in the fire the tares to cast;

      but the fruitful ears to store

      in the garner evermore.  

4.   Even so, Lord, quickly come,

      bring thy final harvest home;

      gather thou thy people in,

      free from sorrow, free from sin,

      there, forever purified,

      in thy presence to abide;

      come, with all thine angels, come,

      raise the glorious harvest home. 

      When I pick my apples Labor Day Weekend, I won't be thinking about the wind and storms the fruit endured over the summer.  I'll be concentrating on the wonderful finished product.

      Too often in this life we concentrate on the storms and troubles we go through, completely forgetting that God is working to turn us into a beautiful creation that will spend eternity in His presence.   Look past the storms to the harvest!

      Even so, Lord, quickly come,

      bring thy final harvest home;

      gather thou thy people in,

      free from sorrow, free from sin,

      there, forever purified,

      in thy presence to abide;

      come, with all thine angels, come,

      raise the glorious harvest home. 

Take care,

Bill