Weary & Wondering

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”—Galatians 6:9

Tired? Weary? Do you wonder if your work for the Lord is being seen? Have you seen fruit in your ministry? For some of us, we know what its like to be weary. We know what its like to be tired, to wonder if anyone hears, if anyone cares. It seems like the world goes on its merry way without giving any thought to Jesus and His commands. The world doesn’t care. It’s easier when the world hates Christ because then you know where they stand. But it’s far different when the reaction of the world is apathy or “whatever.” Responding in anger is one thing, ignoring it is something else altogether.

How do we conduct ourselves when the world doesn’t care? How do we continue on when it appears that everywhere we turn there are individuals on their way to hell without a care in the world? The answer is simple: we cry out with our words and our works that Jesus is the Christ, pleading for them to repent! As Paul said in Romans,

“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what He has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”—Romans 10:14-17.

Faith only comes by hearing the truth about Christ! We testify to God’s truth, calling men and women to repentance! And what is that truth? The truth is God sent His Son from heaven and was born of a virgin, lived the perfect life God required, which we couldn’t possibly attain, paid the price for our sin on the cross, and took the wrath of God on Himself. He died, was buried, and then rose from the dead on the third day. He ascended into heaven, where He now awaits the day when His enemies will be made His footstool and He will enter into the fullness of His kingdom (Acts 2:35; Hebrews 1:13).

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10), and one can only know they’re lost if they understand that they’re sinners! He can’t save men and women if they don’t know what they need to be saved from! We all must know that we’re lost sinners, deserving of God’s wrath! No one is exempt! And then we must realize that Jesus came to save sinners! And we can trust in Him alone for salvation! We repent and believe in the good news of Jesus Christ!

We know we are to call out the truth of Jesus Christ! We testify to the fact that He ascended into heaven, but He will return in the same way, judging men and women for what they’ve done with His Gospel. Our modern world is repulsed at such imagery of God as judge, but God’s thoughts are high above our thoughts, and this is the way He has ordained it to be.

As Christians, we may grow weary and wonder if our lives count for anything, if God sees our work, or if sinners even care. But God will prove to be true and He has testified and promised in His Word that we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Like a farmer casting seed in the field, we continually go forth “weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,” knowing that we “shall come home with shouts of joy” bringing in the fruit of our labor (Psalm 126:6). We know that some will respond positively, while many others will not, but there will be a harvest (Revelation 14:15). Jesus has promised it (John 4:35).

May God give us the eyes to see the ripe and ready harvest field! May we get a glimpse of the fruit of our labors! But even if God chooses not to show us now, may He give us eyes of faith to trust in Him as we await the day in eternity future when we will see the fruit of our labor. Amen.