Jeremiah 8:18–22 KJV 1900

When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

WHEN IT IS Too Late

INTRODUCTION:

In our scripture passage it seems that Jeremiah has come to recognize the mighty power of God in his dealings with the children of Israel.

He said, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."

Starvation is upon them, people are dying every day, but the preacher has been unable to get the people to listen to reason.

The only thing that he can now say is, "It is too late."

Isaiah 55:6 KJV 1900

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near:

In nature there is a time to sow and a time to reap, and the reaping depends on the sowing.

The time for sowing will pass, so will the time for harvest pass.

THE HARVEST OF YOUTH PASSES

Most of the people that are saved, are saved while young.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 KJV 1900

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Proverbs 8:17 KJV 1900

I love them that love me; And those that seek me early shall find me.

Matthew 19:14 KJV 1900

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

THE HARVEST OF GOD'S SPECIAL DEALINGS PASSES

God works in mysterious ways in an effort to reach the lost. In 1943 a man tried to pray for his son who was in the war in North Africa. While trying to pray he found that he wasn't saved, but after he accepted the Lord his prayer for his son was answered. A man in prison waiting for the date of execution found that without God, life was not worth living and death was not worth dying.

GOD MAY REMOVE THE REAPERS FROM YOUR MIDST

A young man about to lease the house for a night of sin found a tract with his hat and gloves. He got mad and said, "When will people leave me alone?" His mother answered, "When you're in hell, my son, nobody will bother you then."

THE HARVEST OF THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PASSES

God has said:

Genesis 6:3 KJV 1900

And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

John 6:44 KJV 1900

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

THE HARVEST OF LIFE ITSELF WILL COME TO PASS

Proverbs 29:1 KJV 1900

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Let us not be among those that would lament as did the prophet Jeremiah, when he said, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."