DRY EYES & DRY BAPTISTRIES

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." - Psalm 126:5

The Church in America is facing a crisis.  Statistics show that most churches are not growing.  A majority of Bible-believing churches did not baptize one convert during the past year.  The data from "mega-churches" seem impressive until you realize that they are reaching a smaller percentage of their city than the rural churches.

When I was a little boy, it was not uncommon to drive by a river on a Sunday afternoon and see a crowd gathered for a baptism.  That is rare these days.  Even though most of our churches have "upgraded" to the use of a baptistery, our number of baptisms have diminished greatly. 

What has happened to protracted revivals and mass baptisms?  These days our churches seem to have little impact on our communities.  What has happened?

Obviously there are many reasons for the crisis that churches face today.  I want to focus on one glaring issue.  Our baptisteries are dry because our eyes are dry.  When we fail to weep over the lost, they will fail to weep over their condition.  In most churches, tears are rare.  Here's a personal question:  when was the last time YOU wept over sinners?  If all the tears you've shed for sinners were collected together, could they fill a baptistery?  Could they even fill a thimble? 

I love Psalm 126.  Some refer to this psalm as the revival psalm.  The hymn, "Bringing In The Sheaves," was based upon the last two verses of this psalm.  As we see in this psalm, tears play an important role in an expected harvest.

Do you expect to see a harvest of souls?  Let's look at the final two verses of Psalm 126 and learn how the psalmist viewed the process of receiving a harvest.

1.  GOING

First of all, we must be "going."  "He that goeth forth..." (Emphasis added).  Jesus gave us the Great Commission.  The first word of His command was, "Go..."  (Mat. 28:19).  If we expect to see a spiritual harvest we must go.  Too many believers are looking for sinners to "come."  If you want sinners to "come," you must first, "go."  We have too many armchair Christians.  They are spectators but not participants in God's work.  The Church is called to go.  Believers are commanded to go.  Don't expect the harvest to jump into your lap as you sit in your recliner.  You must go to the harvest field.

2.  SOWING

Secondly, there must be sowing.  "They that sow in tears will reap in joy," (emphasis added).  Before you can expect a harvest, you must first sow seed.  Most Christians are looking for a harvest, yet they have never scattered any seed.  When Jesus gave us the parable of the sower, He revealed that the seed we should sow is "the Word," (Luke 8:11).  You'd think a farmer is crazy to expect a harvest when he has never plowed the field or planted any seed.  It is just as crazy for believers to expect a harvest when no seed has been planted.  We must sow the seed.  Notice that this seed is to be sown, "in tears."  Weeping saints are often reaping saints.  Do you care for lost souls?  Are you burdened for them?  Do you really long for their salvation?  Such a burden should prompt us to pray with many tears.  Yet such a burden would prompt us to sow the seed as well.  Sow generously.  Paul wrote, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6).  Solomon wrote, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." (Ecclesiastes 11:6).  Go and sow!

3.  KNOWING

In verse 6 the Bible says, "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing..."  (Emphasis added).  The sower had confidence that God was going to bless his efforts.  We should have confidence in the power of the Word.  The Gospel has the power to change lives.  Share the Word with expectancy.  Sow the seed knowing that God's seed produces a harvest.

4.  GLOWING

Finally, the sower returns rejoicing.  "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."  There is nothing more exciting than seeing a person get saved --- especially someone you've witnessed to. 

One reason our baptisteries are dry and unused is because we lack the passion to see souls saved.  Evangelism and revival begin in the prayer closet but never stays there. 

Each person you meet will spend eternity either in heaven or hell.  Can you bear the thought of them going to hell?  Let your love for Jesus and compassion for their souls lead you to weep over them in prayer.  I believe that if we had such a burden for souls, we'd boldly share the Gospel with them.

I long to see a great harvest, don't you?