Still Have Time for the Harvest.
Sept. 14, 2025
Jeremiah 8:18–22 (NLT) 18 My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken. 19 Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. “Has the Lord abandoned Jerusalem?” the people ask. “Is her King no longer there?” “Oh, why have they provoked my anger with their carved idols and their worthless foreign gods?” says the Lord.
20 “The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,” the people cry, “yet we are not saved!” 21 I hurt with the hurt of my people. I mourn and am overcome with grief. 22 Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?
Illustration:
A man overslept one morning and woke up in a panic. He threw on yesterday’s wrinkled shirt, grabbed two different socks, brushed his teeth with his wife’s pink toothbrush, and sprinted down the street to the bus stop like an Olympic runner. He got there to see the bus pulling away. Out of breath, he waved his arms and yelled, but it was too late. He had missed it. Everyone who saw him laughed—but he wasn’t laughing. Why? Because no matter how fast he ran, the opportunity was gone.
That’s how it will be for those who wait too long to repent.
People laugh now, thinking they have plenty of time.
But when the door of mercy closes, they won’t be laughing anymore.
This is like to story of the 10 virgins:
5 had oil, and 5 did not come prepared with oil.
When the five foolish virgins came back, knocking on the door,
the answer was: “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”
Matthew 25:10–12 (NIV) 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
Too many are waiting but the “bus of grace” is passing by.
The door is closing.
Now is the time to repent. Mercy and Grace is still available.
This is what Jeremiah 8:20 is saying:
It’s a cry of people who come to understand the weight of sin,
Only when it is too late.
Jeremiah 8:20 (NLT) “The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,” the people cry, “yet we are not saved!”
The People of Israel had been deported to the far land of Babylonia.
a. They don’t understand how this could happen:
Jeremiah 8:19 (NLT) Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. “Has the Lord abandoned Jerusalem?” the people ask. “Is her King no longer there?” “Oh, why have they provoked my anger with their carved idols and their worthless foreign gods?” says the Lord.
They thought they were safe because
The Temple is in Jerusalem, and the God of Israel is there.
This is being religious.
God wants your heart, not your religious activities and beliefs.
b. God responds to the People of Israel by saying to them:
Your troubles came because of:
Your sin:
Your disobedience to God.
Jeremiah 8:19 (NLT) Listen to the weeping of my people; it can be heard all across the land. “Has the Lord abandoned Jerusalem?” the people ask. “Is her King no longer there?” “Oh, why have they provoked my anger with their carved idols and their worthless foreign gods?” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 7:24–26 (NLT) 24 “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. 25 From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets—day in and day out. 26 But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors.
c. The People of Israel Respond:
Jeremiah 8:20 (NLT) “The harvest is finished, and the summer is gone,” the people cry, “yet we are not saved!”
This is the cry of people who come to understand the weight of sin,
Only when it is too late.
“The Harvest” is when God gives people opportunities to Repent.
John 4:35 (NIV) Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
“We are not saved” means:
Harvest time is over, gone.
People are without Hope.
There are consequences to sin:
-Sin always promises pleasure, but it delivers pain.
-Sin leads to regret.
Sin Deceives:
Promise of fun and freedom but leads to bondage.
Pay back the devil is coming.
You think you have time, but sin blinds you from the truth.
Sin Destroys:
You Don’t realize the cost until it’s too late.
Don’t delay Repentance!
Matthew 7:13–14 (NKJV) 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Christ Delivers:
Jesus paid the price for us on the Cross.
You don’t have to carry the weight of sin.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT) For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Turn to Christ now, while mercy is still offered.”
We are coming close to a time when it will be
too late for people to repent:
Romans 13:11–12 (NLT) 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
There is Still Time for the Harvest!
It’s Gonna take:
1. v. 21. Hurting for Hurting People.
Jeremiah 8:21 (NLT) I hurt with the hurt of my people.
I mourn and am overcome with grief.
Jeremiah 8:18 (NLT) My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken.
This is a cry for Lost souls.
Sometimes we get caught up in our own problems,
We forget that there is a bigger picture.
Souls are dying and going to hell.
Do We grieve when we see Rebelling against God?
-Our loved ones,
-People from the church,
-People in the streets, world,
We know that if people don’t surrender to Christ, They will end in suffering, disaster, and destruction.
2. v. 22a. The Balm (Medicine) of Gilead.
Jeremiah 8:22 (NLT) Is there no medicine in Gilead (balm in Gilead)? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?
Balm is a resin that comes from a tree that is used for medicine.
Gilead (east of the Jordan) was known for its aromatic plants,
used for medicinal cures.
The Balm (Medicine) in Gilead symbolizes:
-The Anointing Oil, The Word of God.
-God’s Anointing and His Word Heals, Set people Free.
Luke 4:18–19 (NKJV) 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
3. v. 22b. Someone to administer healing.
Jeremiah 8:22 (NLT) Is there no medicine in Gilead (balm in Gilead)? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?
God’s Physicians.
Servants willing to:
Tell people the Good News.
Preach and teach the Word of God, under the anointing of God.
Pay the price.
Be faithful in doing the work of the Ministry.
Ephesians 4:11–12 (NIV) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
v. 22c. There is no excuse:
Jeremiah 8:22 (NLT) Is there no medicine in Gilead (balm in Gilead)? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?
Everything we need is available to bring hope to hurting people.