When Comes the Harvest

During the first full week of October, all around the college, the farmers have been harvesting the soybean fields. It is amazing to watch one of these large machines collect the bounty that God has blessed for the farmer’s hard work.

That reminds me of a story told by Dr. Carl Resener (1929-2011). Dr. Resener was Hoosier born, and he was a friend and Board member of Heritage Baptist College. His ministry was spent directing the Nashville Rescue Mission in Tennessee. Dr. Resener was also an author.

In one of his books, Dr. Resener related this story: An irreligious farmer in one of our Western states, who glorified in his irreligion, wrote a letter to a local newspaper, saying: “Sir, I have been trying an experiment with a field of mine. I plowed it on Sunday. I planted it on Sunday. I cultivated it on Sunday. I reaped it on Sunday. I hauled it into my barn on Sunday. And now Mr. Editor, what is the result? I have more bushels to the acre in that field than any of my neighbors have had this October.”

He expected some applause from the editor, who did not, perhaps, himself profess to be an especially religious man. But underneath the letter the editor published a line or two of comment, as follows:

“God does not always settle his accounts in October.” (Resener, Carl. Ups and Downs: Elevating the Christian Life. Nashville, TN. Rescue Ministry Resources. 1995. p. 155)

Still Witnessing

A cemetery is a place of reflection and memories. For Elwood George, he used this last chance to continually witness of his Christian faith.

About 20 miles north of the Heritage Baptist College is Carmel Cemetery where Mr. Elwood George’s body is buried. His gravestone overlooks busy Rangeline Rd., as a continual stream of cars pass by in this upscale community.

The grave marker has the date of Mr. George’s birth and death (1857-1945), his date of salvation (Dec. 6,v1877), along with two Bible verses. That in itself is special, but on the reverse side of the tombstone, and in large letters that everyone can read, is a question that local motorists are asked every day.

It is amazing what God can do through just little steps in witnessing. Who knows the folks that will be in heaven, just because they were asked again, and in a different way, if their soul was saved?

The Unknown Tomorrow

At 40 years of age, John Adams lay deathly sick of a fever, far away from his family, and in Holland. His illness would last nearly six weeks.

This ardent Revolutionary Patriot, had helped to draft the Declaration of Independence five years before, and now in Europe, he had been removed from his family for nearly a year.

His political task was to raise money and to secure recognition of the United States with the Dutch government.

In that early fall of 1781, sick, and unsuccessful, he wrote to Congress asking to be recalled, stating that his mission was “useless.”

What Mr. Adams didn’t know, was that right at that moment, the Revolutionary War, which had gone badly for the Americans, was changing. On Friday, October 19, 1781 (241 years ago), British General Cornwalis surrendered his 7,000 troops to General George Washington.

John Adams had long pressed the French for a strong naval presence in America. At exactly the right time and place, Admiral de Grasse arrived with a French fleet of 28 large warships which stopped Cornwalis’ escape. However, the good news did not arrive across the Atlantic Ocean for a month.

Even during Mr. Adam’s discouragement, all was going forth as God had ordained it. In a matter of weeks John Adam’s mission also became a success. In the following year he served with the American delegation that drafted and signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the Revolutionary War. (McCullough, David. John Adams. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001 [p. 271]).

God had everything going forward in His plan. The Bible illustrates this in another way in the life of Daniel.

We have only to trust Him, follow Him, or if He so chooses, simply wait.

Dr. David Price to Speak at Autumn Banquet

Heritage Baptist College will host the Annual Fall Banquet at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4th. Dr. David Price, of Coopertown, TN is scheduled to speak, and he will spiritually feed your heart and soul. Dr. Price pastors the thriving Providence Baptist Church, a church he founded in 2000 in the greater Nashville, TN area. The Lord has blessed the church with many souls saved.

Again this year, we will host the Autumn Banquet on the Hopewell Campus, and the food will be catered by Gray Brother’s Cafeteria.

Come and enjoy Dr. Price’s message, along with a night of good food, Christian music, and great fellowship. Please call Heritage Baptist College to make a reservation. (317) 738-3791 or (317) 833-0172.