Green Box
Albert E. Farley
Greetings! On behalf of the Weirton Heights church of Christ, I invite you to attend the 2010 West Virginia Christian Lectureship, September 26-29, and strongly urge you to consider attending each special day. The Weirton Heights congregation has planned, prayed, and labored hard to provide this special opportunity. We are truly thankful for them and pray their labors will yield much precious and eternal fruit.
Welcome to the pages of our special 2010 lectureship issue! Our articles this month are written by the speakers of the lectureship. These are not their lectures but do reflect what they will be presenting in their lessons. Their lecture manuscripts will be placed on CD's by the Weirton Heights congregation and given, freely, to all who attend.
Friends, when we attend the various county and seasonal fairs of our area, we are happy in seeing so many people enjoying the local fruits and agricultural products and appreciating the arts and crafts of their neighbors. However, without remembered exception, I am made to think sadly of the unsaved condition of so many of the multitudes of people surrounding me. I am reminded of the words of Matthew 9:36, “But when he [Jesus] saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Our generation is filled with those who are like the people before the flood. “For as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Mt 24:37-39.
Our month, September, overlaps the Jewish months Elul and Tishri. September is the beginning of the autumn season – the time of harvest for many crops. May we ever remember the most precious harvest – the harvest of souls. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” Lk 10:2.
The harvesting of souls into the church built by Christ knows no monthly boundary. Jesus said, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth, and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” Jn 4:35, 36.
It is interesting that the flower for the month of September is the morning-glory. Will it not be the most glorious morning – the morning of joy – when all of God's people go home? May we enter into the harvest that our joy and the joy of all others will be full on that day!
Our circulation last month was 2,807 copies. We praise God and thank all who labor with us. Visit our display when you attend the lectures. -Albert.