The Fields Are Already Ripe
John 4:35-38 says this: “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike. You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
This passage has come alive to me multiple times over the last ten years. Tonight, I want to give you some illustrations of personal evangelism and co-laboring in Christ.
If you’ve been a follower of Jesus for very long, you know that even though it’s a personal step you’re taking, God is with you every single step of the way. He will give you words and wisdom.
For the longest time after becoming a Christian, I felt like I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t have the right words. But God will give you words and wisdom in the moment.
If you are a believer, you are called to share. We have the life raft, and people around us are drowning. Throw it to them—even if you don’t think they’re interested. I can tell you I did not seem interested until the day I was saved, and I’m so thankful for people who continued to throw me the raft.
The Man on the Plane
About three months ago, I had the opportunity to go to Africa with Convoy of Hope. Before leaving, I was praying, “God, give me a word for these women I’m going to meet. Give me something that will transform their lives long after we’re gone.”
I was so fixated on the destination that I forgot about the journey along the way.
Getting onto the plane, it didn’t take long before I realized: God, it’s the journey. You have us all on a journey.
I met a man on the plane, and we started chatting about politics. Eventually, I asked what he did. He said he was a professor at Penn State. He told me he’d been in the news recently because he “cracked the code” on why the giraffe’s neck is so long.
He gave me this really long scientific explanation about evolution.
I kind of laughed and said, “So it’s not just because God wants them to eat the leaves at the top of the tree?”
He looked at me like I was crazy.
We talked for quite a while, and I asked, “So are you Christian?”
He said, “Yeah, I’m Christian.”
I said, “That’s interesting. Tell me about that. You wrote the book on evolution, and you’re a Christian?”
He started talking about his mom. “My mom is a really strong Christian woman. I remember she used to get up early and pray every single day. She even fasted sometimes.”
The conversation quickly turned to his mom’s faith—in past tense.
I said, “I guess your mom has passed away?”
He said, “Yeah, she’s passed away.”
I just kind of chuckled, and he said, “What’s so funny?”
Your Mom’s Co-Laborer
I said, “Honestly, I’ve been praying so much about what God would have me do once I arrive in Africa. I was asking for illustrations along the way, and I’m finding out that I’m your mom’s co-laborer.“
I told him about this passage in John 4—how God sends co-laborers along the path.
“Sir, even though your mom is dead and gone, it’s clear to me that she means so much to you. You know what? You can actually see her again. The beauty of the Christian story is that you can see her again. But it’s a choice.”
He started to tear up. He took his glasses off and said, “You know, my identity has been in science. I’ve given my life to what I’m studying.”
I said, “I’m just telling you that God sends co-laborers out of His way to minister to people. He sent an uneducated—compared to you—reporter from Springfield, Missouri, to fly halfway across the world to remind you that everything your mom taught you is absolutely true. And that God still has a plan for your life.”
Who Have You Given Up On?
I don’t know who it is you’ve given up on, but I hope this message brings someone to your mind. Someone you’ve said, “They’re too far gone. They don’t have any interest. I don’t have a voice in their life anymore.”
I came here to tell you that God Himself is sending co-laborers along that person’s path. Your lost spouse. Your lost child. Your wayward friend.
God loves them and cares about their salvation even more than you do. So let’s trust that God is sending co-laborers along their path.
I pray for co-laborers. I have a huge family—many of them unsaved. I don’t talk to a lot of them on a regular enough basis to feel like I have that deep influence. But God doesn’t only use me. He hears my prayer and sends co-laborers.
Own Your Zone
A couple years ago, Charlotte Gamble spoke at the Women’s Conference and said, “Own your zone.”
Something about that sermon resonated with me. God has given every single one of us a zone. It doesn’t matter if you’re a vocational minister. If you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, He has planted you exactly where you are at this time in history.
As the world around us seems to be falling apart, we have the answer. We have the light in us. And as we near that time, our light is going to shine even brighter.
Who are you running alongside? Who are you co-laboring with? What gray-haired granny sitting in Arkansas right now has been praying for her grandson that you work with?
You have nothing to lose because you know how this whole thing ends.
Somewhere along the way, we’ve been so scared to offend, so married to political correctness, that we’ve forgotten that the God of heaven is fighting for us. He’s going before us and saying, “I called you to them.”
My Niece Chloe’s Story
Let me close with this story.
My niece Chloe went into foster care during her teenage years. That was terrifying. I had just had my first child—she was six weeks old—when the foster care worker called me from Oklahoma. My husband and I went to get her, and she lived here in Springfield for about a year.
Just as I felt like we were getting really close and she was getting involved in church, she got sent back to Oklahoma—back to my brother, who at the time was still an addict.
I thought, “God, I’m so discouraged. I’ve lost my influence. I’ve lost my voice. Why would You do that?”
This passage came to absolute life to me again. I started praying: “God, send co-laborers. She’s not taking my phone calls right now because she’s a teenager.”
She went to Oklahoma State University—super secular campus. She was living the party life, doing the crazy things that I did. And I just wanted her to be saved.
There was a girl at the end of the semester named Kim. I don’t know Kim. I’ve never seen her. I’ll likely never meet her until we get to heaven.
Kim randomly went up to my niece and said, “Would you like to go to lunch? I’ll pay for it.”
They went to Chipotle together, and Kim said something along the lines of, “What if you gave your heart to Jesus?”
Chloe started crying and said, “My aunt in Springfield told me about Him, and I know that I should do that.”
Even though she was a state away and I thought I had lost my voice and influence, as we were praying for co-laborers, God sent some random stranger who was 18 years old who brought her back to the Lord.
She right now is serving God with all of her heart.
Always Evangelism Season
I want you to know that no matter who it is, no matter how far gone they are, God has a plan for them. It’s not us who changes hearts—it’s only Him. But He hears our prayers and moves in response to them.
2 Timothy 4:2 says: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
It is always evangelism season.
It doesn’t matter if you’re bold and a bulldog like I can be, or if you’re shy and quiet. Your life is a witness. But it’s not just taking the backpack to Stuff the Bus. It is vocally telling them that the love of Jesus Christ has forever transformed and changed your life.
Sometimes we can do kind things—which is awesome and necessary—but unless you’re willing to speak boldly and make known the mysteries of the gospel, they might just think you’re a nice person.
The field is already ripe for harvest. There’s no point in waiting because there is an urgency.
Who are you co-laboring with today?
Want more encouragement? Follow Sara’s daily devotionals on Instagram @saraforhetz or tune in weekdays 6-10 AM on 88.3 The Wind.
