"On the Solid Rock I Stand"

 "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." (Ecclesiastes 11:6 KJV)

  "Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, "Rabbi, eat something." But Jesus replied, "I have a kind of food you know nothing about." "Did someone bring him food while we were gone?" the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 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 get to gather the harvest."" (John 4:31-38 NLT) 

 Looks like there might be something wrong with this title; as it is, there is really nothing to associate the Solid Rock with that of harvesting and sowing seed; especially not the harvest Jesus was showing His disciples, as these, white turbine wearing, Samaritans were ascending up the mountain, from the city below.  

 Something I discovered early on in my New Life as a believer in Christ: our faith in Christ is a river of life; it flows into us, and it must also flow out of us! Every river has to flow to be a river; if it doesn't flow, then it is dried up and worthless; stagnate and unhealthy, the life has dried up, and there are only dead fish left to be seen; any fish that are still alive, are trapped in little pools of water. 

 I know that description might sound rather dramatic, but there is life flowing into us, and it must flow out of us in order to stay alive! Whether we sow or harvest, either one is good! It could just be a blessing you say to someone, just a little, "God Bless You," as you pass by someone you don't even know; that could be enough to cause them to think about the Lord, or if they already know the Lord, to think about sharing Him also. 

 The harvest is the person that accepts the Lord into their heart, which could just happen by a little seed which gets sown. We really have no clue what God will do; but it is our responsibility to be ready to act when the Lord tells us what to do. 

 I have shared this before, but the first message I gave to the High School kids at church, was based upon this very special event: John 4:4 "He had to go through Samaria on the way." (NLT) Actually, the KJV says, "Must," which makes it more about something He needed to do. 

 When we moved the church from Palo Cedro to Shasta Lake, three of the High School kid's mothers made a beautiful picture embroidery of a dove; above it there was the words, Calvary Chapel Shasta Lake, and at the bottom it said, "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields for they are already white for the harvest!" 

 This was all about Jesus needing to go, because He was prompted to meet the woman at the well; at the very least, He was prompted to go through Samaria; which was not something many Jews would actually do. But He was doing the work He was needing to do! I don't know about you, but whenever I don't do something, I feel prompted to do, I feel this empty feeling deep down in my gut; sometimes it even feels like I got punched in the gut; either way, it definitely doesn't feel satisfying...

"He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD'S good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins." (Isaiah 53:7-11 NLT)