June 2000
"The Harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." (Jeremiah 8:20)
The fields around our village have been the focus of concentrated effort over the last few weeks as the farmers have sought to harvest their crops. The time spent over many months is rewarded as the tractors drive off with their trailers loaded with grain and the farmers are satisfied with what they have obtained. Jeremiah in his prophecy reminds us that the season of harvest is only short; and the summer soon comes to an end; but why does he mention about being saved?
When the Lord Jesus was living upon the earth He told a parable of a man that "sowed good seed into his field: But while he slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way." When the servants found the tares they told the owner of the field who let the crops grow until they were ready for the harvest; when he then instructed his servants to bind up the tares and burn them.
The Lord Jesus then explained that "The field is the world"; those who obey God are the good seed, and "the harvest is the end of the world." In a day soon to come God will bring in the harvest of our souls; the summer will be ended, but will we be saved? The only way we can guarantee the eternal salvation that God offers is through the Lord Jesus Christ who said, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35). So as the harvest draws to a close and the summer ends once again, can I ask you; "Are you saved?"
A Life of Faith... (Henry J Heinz)
Henry Heinz was the eldest boy of a family of German immigrants brought up in the little frontier village of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania. Each day would consist of three basic tasks for the young lad, and all would be carried out with the utmost of care.
First, it was off to school in the morning where the main text book used by the Lutheran pastor who taught them was his Bible. The it would be home for Henry to help his mother in the small kitchen garden which supplied almost everything they ate. Finally he would travel around the village with a basket, selling the produce which they had grown.
Amidst this busy schedule Heinz still spent a lot of time think about the Lord Jesus who meant much to him from an early age. He would think about the life that He had lived and would often be lost in thought as he considered the when his Saviour was nailed to the wooden cross. "My sins," he thought, "were punished there! He was my Saviour, for He died in my place, and the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all!" To Henry Heinz He was the Lord that the youngest child could speak to and know; a Lord to be served and obeyed.
When Heinz left school he concentrated his efforts mainly in the small garden, whilst helping his father in the struggling brick-making company. At twenty-five he married Sarah Young, a devout Christian, and together they sought to serve God. That same year, 1869, the first Henry J Heinz Food firm appeared on the company registers, selling bottled horseradish. The success of this first product grew rapidly and the company had soon expanded, buying more land and producing more products.
Things went well until one phenomenal harvest when the farm in Illinois, whom Heinz had promised to buy all the produce from, produced more than Heinz could afford and his company folded like many others. Despite this Heinz was soon busy with his "Pure food products" bottled and on the shop shelves once again.
In 1886 Heinz travelled with his family over to England with the intention of going on to Germany and perhaps further afield. Whilst here he visited Fortnum and Mason's (by appointment suppliers of provisions to the Royal Household), armed with several of his products. The company agreed to buy his products: Heinz foods had entered the country.
Just before the end of his life Heinz wrote: "Looking forward to the time when my earthly career shall end, I desire to set forth, at the very beginning of this Will, as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Saviour."
Lord, are there few that be saved?
This question was asked of the Lord Jesus when He lived in the world, but as He was heading towards Jerusalem to die. His response started with a word of encouragement to those who listened, "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate:" This shows us that there is a responsibility upon the individual to 'strive' that they might gain entrance. We can see too that this is a narrow gate. Contrary to popular belief we cannot approach God in any way that we want, the Lord Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
The warning of this answer also shows us that there will be many who "shall not be able." This is because they are not known to God and He will say to them "depart from me I know you not."
However, the message is not all doom and gloom, for the Bible also encourages our hearts by telling us to "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near;" and "If thou seek Him He will be found of thee."
And so in summing up the question: are there few that be saved? - Yes, but ALL those who seek God through the Lord Jesus Christ, without exception, will be saved eternally.
You can read the record of the full conversation in Luke 13:24-30, or turn to other Scriptures to read of the work of the Lord Jesus upon the cross, that you might "know the only true God, and Jesus Christ" as your Saviour.
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