A Time for Hope
October has arrived
Daylight will fade away, despite the misnomer of “Daylight Savings Time.” There will be Oktoberfest, pumpkin spice lattes, skyrocketing candy sales, corn mazes and pumpkin patches, trips to the mountains to see the beautiful changing of the aspens, prepping of skis and snowboards, and of course, the annual event of the raking of the leaves as we prepare for the ensuing winter.
For those of us who like the cooler weather, it is a welcome relief, but for others of us who enjoy the warmer temps, it is a bit sad, having to retire the shorts and flip flops. A sort of grieving takes place; saying farewell for a time.
The prophet Jeremiah and the people of his day were grieving too.
“The harvest is past,
the summer has ended,
and we are not saved.”
(Jeremiah 8:20)
This sadness was not because of fleeing warmer temps, but a deeper spiritual one; harvest was over, the summer gone, and they were not saved.
The harvest and summer in the text was God’s time-limited opportunity for Judah to repent and turn back to Him. They had refused and so that prospect was over and past. Now all that faced them was God’s ensuing judgement and season of winter, because they were not saved.
As a prophet all he could do was weep for the people as they agonized with the realities of deportation, slavery, terror, and foreboding death. He was crushed as a prophet, who had faithfully warned them of this coming judgement. Even though they had not heeded his message, his spirit was devastated, and his eyes poured out water like a continuously emptying fountain. It is for good reason we call Jeremiah “The Weeping Prophet.”
For those of us who like the cooler weather, it is a welcome relief, but for others of us who enjoy the warmer temps, it is a bit sad, having to retire the shorts and flip flops. A sort of grieving takes place; saying farewell for a time.
The prophet Jeremiah and the people of his day were grieving too.
“The harvest is past,
the summer has ended,
and we are not saved.”
(Jeremiah 8:20)
This sadness was not because of fleeing warmer temps, but a deeper spiritual one; harvest was over, the summer gone, and they were not saved.
The harvest and summer in the text was God’s time-limited opportunity for Judah to repent and turn back to Him. They had refused and so that prospect was over and past. Now all that faced them was God’s ensuing judgement and season of winter, because they were not saved.
As a prophet all he could do was weep for the people as they agonized with the realities of deportation, slavery, terror, and foreboding death. He was crushed as a prophet, who had faithfully warned them of this coming judgement. Even though they had not heeded his message, his spirit was devastated, and his eyes poured out water like a continuously emptying fountain. It is for good reason we call Jeremiah “The Weeping Prophet.”
How does this impact us today in 2026?
Has the harvest ended for us and for America? We face some dire things. Our nation struggles with the war in Iran, the growth and acceptance of communism and Islam, a growing antisemitic hatred for the Jews and Israel, the cultural shifting away from biblical teaching and values as well as the death of truth.
Is it over for us?
Time will tell, but I think not. We are in a time of harvest right now, where many people are repenting of their sin and turning to Jesus and being saved. Maybe you are one of those recently saved and born again into God’s family.
According to the Barna research group: “Millennials and Gen Z Christians are attending church more frequently than before and much more often than are older generations. The typical Gen Z churchgoer now attends 1.9 weekends per month, while Millennial churchgoers average 1.8 times—a steady upward shift since the lows seen during the pandemic.” https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/
This resurgence seems to be led by young men who are turning back to the church and reversing the downward trend of previous generations. This is wonderful news and is a sign that it isn’t as bad as it might seem.
Hope and the harvest is right now! I’m reminded of Jesus words in John 4:34-36 Jesus says, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together."
The time to repent of our sins is now.
The time to turn to Jesus is now.
The time to help in the harvest of souls is now.
The time to do the will of the Father is now.
The time to be serving the Lord in His Church is now.
The time to be praying is now
The time to have hope is now.
What are you waiting for?
According to the Barna research group: “Millennials and Gen Z Christians are attending church more frequently than before and much more often than are older generations. The typical Gen Z churchgoer now attends 1.9 weekends per month, while Millennial churchgoers average 1.8 times—a steady upward shift since the lows seen during the pandemic.” https://www.barna.com/research/young-adults-lead-resurgence-in-church-attendance/
This resurgence seems to be led by young men who are turning back to the church and reversing the downward trend of previous generations. This is wonderful news and is a sign that it isn’t as bad as it might seem.
Hope and the harvest is right now! I’m reminded of Jesus words in John 4:34-36 Jesus says, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together."
The time to repent of our sins is now.
The time to turn to Jesus is now.
The time to help in the harvest of souls is now.
The time to do the will of the Father is now.
The time to be serving the Lord in His Church is now.
The time to be praying is now
The time to have hope is now.
What are you waiting for?
Posted in Bible Devotionals
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