John 4:35 The Message       “As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!”

Jesus likened people to the harvest. They are ready to hear truth – the truth about God’s love.

A farmer only has a certain amount of time to reap the harvest before it spoils. So it is with people as well. We never know when a life can be snuffed out. God desires all to be saved. The enemy desires all to be taken to hell. The only thing that prevents people from going to hell is a personal relationship with the Lord.

God sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin so that we could be spared from hell. Jesus willingly suffered and died for us but we must willingly accept what He did for us. Countless people don’t know this! What a great way for the enemy to cash in and take people to hell.

There is an urgency for people to be saved. God’s heart breaks every time someone dies and goes to hell. Our hearts should break also.

I recently watched a youtube video of Penn Jillette, a Las Vegas entertainer who happens to be an atheist. A Christian witnessed to him and what Penn said was very powerful. It’s worth watching! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhG-tkQ_Q2w

Fishing may be a hobby for some but Jesus said He would make us fishers of people. That makes me think I should probably learn from fishermen.

Bait is important but not only good bait – bait that each fish likes. Some like minnows and some like worms. Many fishermen use lures. Have you seen how many different lures you can buy?

Fishing is an art. Fishing for people is also an art – learned by following the Holy Spirit. Some people are hungrier for truth than others. Many need to be fed little bits before you hook them and reel them in. Sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it?

Think about it from a slightly different perspective. People are swimming in the enemy’s cesspool. They’re trapped and they don’t even know it. As fishermen we are trying to catch them with the Life Line of truth that will lead them to eternal salvation. Sounds a little more loving doesn’t it?

I think it’s so easy to lose the perspective that countless people are going to hell because they don’t know the truth. God wants to save them! He wants us to share the truth with them. Unfortunately, people see and hear religion more than they experience relationship.

Religion is a turn-off. A loving, two-way relationship with God is a saving, life-transforming gift. God wants to use us to lovingly fish for people. Let’s go fishing!

Do you remember being told as a kid . . .  “Don’t go there”,  “Keep away from . . . “,  “Don’t go near. . .”  If you’re reading this blog, you heeded the warnings.

There’s danger all around. God isn’t trying to ruin all our fun – He’s trying to protect us. He always warns us against danger. The question begs to be answered – do we listen?

If you’re anything like me your answer will be . . . sometimes. Sometimes we heed the warnings and sometimes we don’t. What we don’t always realize is the life-threatening danger that lurks behind those warnings.

All too often we bulldoze ahead with our own plans only to discover the dangers that seek to trap and destroy us.

We’ve made it this far but let’s stop playing with fire. Let’s heed the warnings and stay away from the dangers of life so that we can enjoy the journey God has prepared for us.