“Lift Up Your Eyes And Look On The Fields”

  By Lois J. Stucky (1928 - 2014) 

    The Lord Jesus, wearied with His journey, was sitting at the well outside Sychar, when the disciples returned with food from the city and urged Him to eat what they had bought.  When they did not understand why He was not interested in eating, Jesus told them, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.  ...My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:32-34).  Doing His Father’s will, reaching out for the salvation of souls, was more vital and fulfilling to Him than even ­necessary food.  Does this not tell us how precious to the heart of the Father and the Son is the salvation of souls?  Christ was always ready to preach salvation to those needing to hear the message.  He ever had “eternity’s ­values in view.”

    Our Lord Jesus went on to tell His disciples to lift up their eyes and see the harvest of souls ready to be gathered in (John 4:35).  Coming from the lips of our Master, surely this is an exhortation, if not a command, to us Christians today also.  Oh, how easy it is in today’s ­society to lose such a focus!  Thank God for the joy to Him each one of you is who is faithfully turning opportunities into experiences of witnessing or praying or giving for world harvest!  But some of us must ask:  What must my eyes be lifted above?  Are the eyes of my heart too often focused on my preferences, my pleasures, my pursuits after success or prosperity, or whatever fills my vision?  Of course, there are necessary things in this world which require due attention.  But let us seek for the love of Christ to so possess our hearts that we have keen vision to see the harvest of souls close around us and in faraway countries – ripe and ready to be gathered in, and we become a faithful harvest hand!

    The Lord further encouraged His disciples to the work of winning souls with these words:  “He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal…”  (John 4:36). What could be more rewarding than to be a worker together with God in that which endures unto eternity!  In this we can have a share if we will.