The "harvest" is a time for winnowing the "wheat"—a sifting, a separating time, and it is for each of us to prove our characters: "Having done all, stand!" The tests of this "harvest" must be like those of the Jewish or typical "harvest." One of them is the cross, another is the presence of Christ, another is humility, another is love. The Jews were reproved because they "knew not the time of their visitation." The matter is doubly distressing for those who have once seen the light of Present Truth, and afterward go into the "outer darkness." It implies unfaithfulness.
The light in us is the holy Spirit. It is possible for it to become darkness. This occurs when the mind gives up the Truth, and the heart, the Spirit of the Truth. Such an effect can occur only when, losing wisdom, power, justice and love, the heart learns to love sin, error, selfishness and worldliness. Such an one cannot be renewed unto repentance. The darkness in him is great and unending. With what watchfulness, prayer and activity we should guard ourselves against such an outcome! Better never to have begun than end our Christian career in this manner.
Luke 11:34-36; Psa. 119:105; Prov. 6:23; Isa. 8:20; 58:8; Matt. 4:16; 5:16; Luke 16:8; John 1:4-9; 3:19-21; 12:35, 36; Acts 26:18; Eph. 5:14; 1 Thes. 5:5; 1 Pet. 2:9; Matt. 8:12; John 11:9, 10; 1 John 2:8-11.
