Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. John 4:35
It’s the time of year to go apple picking in New England. It’s something our family looks forward to every year. Sometimes we go too early in the season, and many of the apples are not ripe. They aren’t ready to be harvested. What we look for is ripe fruit. We look for big, plump, delicious, colorful apples. The fruit that isn’t ripe, we pass by.
Jesus often used agricultural metaphors in his teaching because many of his hearers were farmers or familiar with farming. There were no Trader Joe’s markets back then. The people were deeply connected to the land. They were dependent on the harvest each year. And once the harvest appeared, they needed to put everything aside to bring it in. If the harvest was ready and they decided to put off the work of pulling it in for a few months—it would die. It would be wasted. When the harvest is ripe and ready, the farmers must labor vigorously.
People
In the kingdom of God, the harvest is not apples or corn or blueberries. It’s people. The point Jesus was making in the above verse is that there is a set time for harvest. Farmers know when it will be. Jesus was saying, wake up and look around. People are ready to receive the gospel. All that is needed is for laborers to go out and do the harvesting work.
Especially in New England, in this generation, we can feel like no one anywhere is ripe and ready. We think that no one is interested in the message of Jesus. It feels like all of society has concluded together that Jesus is unnecessary. Many Christians are so convinced that no one is interested in the gospel that they have altogether stopped trying to share their faith with anyone. But the fact is, there are tens of thousands of people around us who are ready to receive the grace of God. No, not everyone is ripe. Most are not ripe. But there are people around us who are ready to experience Jesus. God Himself has been preparing them.
Searching
The great question is, how can we find the ripe ones? Well, back to the apple picking illustration, we have to get out of our bubble at home and go to the orchard. We cannot find ripe apples from the comfort of our couch (though you can probably order them online, but stay with me). We cannot find the ripe apples by staying in our cars and looking at the apple trees. We must go to the orchard, get out of our car, and get up close to the trees. We must touch the branches and look underneath the leaves to find the ripe ones. Sometimes we have to reach up high to grab one. And, of course, it’s not enough to just notice the ripe apple. We have to grab it and pick it from the branch.
Our mission is to go make disciples. It’s to go into all the world and reconcile people to God through the message of Jesus. The mistake we have made in this generation is that we purchase giant baskets and then expect the apples to find their way to the basket and put themselves in it. What I mean is we expect unchurched people to come to the church. But most unchurched people will not come to church. We spend so much time, money, and energy trying to get people to come into our big attraction. It works occasionally. But the way of Jesus is to go to them.
Let’s not just talk about apples. Let’s not be experts at how apple trees work. Let’s not be admirers of apple trees. Let’s not be people who visit apple orchards and sit in our vehicles and stare at the ripe apples. No. Let’s get out amidst the trees and pluck the ripe apples.
Identifying
To be plainer, I’m encouraging us to get up close enough to unchurched people so that we can identify who is ripe and ready. Just like we shouldn’t try to pick an unripe apple, we shouldn’t try to lead someone to Christ who isn’t ready. When we push something on someone who isn’t ready—it never goes well. It may result in a false conversion. It may just get the person angry. It may just waste your time. Don’t try to pluck them if they aren’t ready. The best thing you can do is water the unripe. And wait.
But when we get up close it is often very evident who is ripe. Instead of resistance, there is curiosity. Instead of harshness, there is softness. Instead of awkwardly avoiding spiritual conversation, they seem to welcome it. I think the reason so many Christians dread sharing their faith is that they think they are supposed to preach to people who don’t want anything to do with it, like trying to sell peanut butter to people with peanut allergies.
Thankfully, sharing our faith can be much more natural. It starts with being in the midst of unchurched people. Listen and serve. Don’t come on too strong too quickly. Once you get to know a person, you’ll have a better idea of how to determine if they are ripe. It’s not quite as easy as determining if apples are ripe. With an apple, it’s obvious by its outward appearance. Spiritual ripeness is more hidden and takes time to see. There’s a proverb that says that the heart of a man is like deep waters, but a man of understanding draws it out (paraphrase). This involves asking questions, introducing spiritual ideas, and then carefully noticing reactions.
Sometimes the surface reaction of a person is antagonistic. They may even mock our devotion to Christ. Don’t immediately assume the person isn’t ripe though. A person that is especially bothered by the gospel may be bothered because inside they know it’s true. Some of us—like myself—were aggressive in our opposition to the truth of God before we were regenerated. So we need to read in between the lines. We need to notice those little moments when ripeness is revealed. Sometimes there is no outward evidence at all of ripeness, but the Spirit within us burdens us for the person. When the Spirit compels us to pray incessantly for a person who doesn’t seem ripe—it’s evidence that they are ripe.
Light test
Another way to put it is that we shine a small amount of light and see if the person is drawn to it or repels it. If they repel, then don’t push it. They aren’t ready yet—but keep praying! If a person is drawn to the light then try giving them a little more light. By “light” I mean gospel truth, the truth about our sin, the truth about eternity, and so on. Most people without even realizing it will painfully avoid talking openly and honestly about issues of sin and judgment. They avoid talking seriously about the sacrificial death of Christ in our stead. They can’t handle it. It’s like the stench of death to them. But others welcome the truth as the fragrance of life.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God. John 3:20-21
Who in your world is ripe and ready?