Walking along one of the barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico I noted how many shells were washed up on to the beach.  There were shells of all sizes, colors, shapes, broken pieces of larger shells, and some scraped clean by being pushed along the sandy ocean floor by the tide.  There were not just a few but literally thousands upon thousands.  In fact, the whole beach was really bits of shell more than any sand at all.  People were digging down 8 or 10 inches and still hitting nothing but shells.  Layer upon layer for generations these shells performing their task of housing small sea creatures until the creature no longer needs them by growing out of the shell or is eaten by another animal or bird.  And the cycle continues as the once valuable housing shell becomes building materials for the beach itself.
 
                One can choose to see the monotony of the cycle and then see the shells as cogs in a mighty wheel of which they have a limited effect.  But a closer examination shows that those shells, no matter how small, are providing shelter and protection for even the tiniest of sea creatures.  And then when no longer needed to sustain the life of the little sea animal it will then give up its shell to provide material to maintain the barrier island.  We need to also remember that in time of storms it is these barrier islands that bear the brunt of the storm and protect the shoreline.

                Sometimes in our Christian walk we get discouraged by continuing on when others have fallen away or turned to other endeavors.  Paul wrote to the Galatians, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." (Gal 6:9)  The cares of this world and the distractions of life, pull brothers and sisters away from Kingdom work.  It is easy to get weary when the burden of the work falls to the faithful few and the spiritual storms seem to engulf those that persevere.  But do not despair, the bible speaks of begin steadfast and faithful in the execution of our duties and how the Master will treat those servants who are found faithful when He returns.

                "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.  Assuredly, I say to you he will make him ruler over all his goods.  But if that evil servant says in his heart, "My master is delaying his coming,' and then begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt 24:45-51)

                All I know is that my bible says that the "harvest is white", in other words, ready to be harvested.  And I would agree that we are definitely in the age when Jesus speaks of this great harvest of souls.  This is not the time to be distracted, it is the time to be about Kingdom business, as we do not know the day or the hour of our Master's soon coming!

                                                                                                          Sunday, August 29, 2010