by Ron Sears
God’s economy offers hope that is founded on life’s certainties: seedtime and harvest; day followed by night; life leading to eternity; heaven and hell; all proving the eternal certainty of God — He can be trusted.
We also find hope and certainty in change. Spring turns to summer, which is followed by fall bringing winter. Each of the seasons declares a change has come and another is on its way. This allows us to be absolute in determining the passing of time and finding a hope that after the winter there will be the new life of spring.
His faithfulness gives hope as one generation gives birth to the next. It has been constant since creation. The winter of age has been comforted by the birth of the springtime of youth. Though each generation is different than the preceding, there are many similarities. They were all born in sin and in need of the Savior. God’s grace is offered to all and those who respond in faith are made new.
Hope guides humanity as it steadily moves towards eternity in the footsteps of their parents. They see their need of forgiveness and repent. They watch as their world careens toward an eternity without Christ. A burden is born in their souls and they surrender to the call. It’s the same voice their ancestors heard and followed. They have different means available for sharing the gospel and there are many more souls in need. They view the landscape with a different eye but their heart is the same — Jesus saves. They are sensing the unchanging truth of seedtime and harvest. As they recognize this, they are responding with a passion to plant the seed of God’s grace while there is time.
Hope is born because God is at work. We are blessed to participate in the training of today’s generation. It is an age offering God’s truth as it brings a passion to youth. It’s how God designed it to happen. Yet we have a shortage of laborers. Even this is not different than when Christ lived. Hope was born when He said to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth laborers into the field. It’s His field. The laborers are called and sent forth by Him and there is comfort in knowing God continues His work.
Because God is faithful, we know that when these students become great-grandparents, God will still be at work. He came to seek and to save the lost. He’s still looking for some laborers to go into the field. Are you praying?