So Shall You Reap!
Rev. Sudha Mehta©
Here is a simple saying that is actually an eternal principle. It will be there forever, and ever and ever! As you sow, so shall you reap!!
God has set the pattern of things in the Book of Genesis as He saw best.
Genesis 1: 11 God said, “Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth;” and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.(WEB)
In my previous post I shared with you how I planted Methi (Fenugreek) seeds expecting Methi plants to grow. I could not plant any other kind of seed and expect it to give me a Methi harvest.
But then, you all know that, for it is common sense. That is how all plants work all over the World. Whatever seed you plant, it will bring up a harvest of the same.
Today I want to show you that the same principle works in our lives in all other ways as well. In fact, this principle works even in the spiritual realm.
When my son was a teenager, he got his drivers license, and was able to drive on his own. I said to him, “Son, as you start going out on your own, understand that I as your mother cannot watch over you every hour of every minute. You are going out there to meet up with your friends. I want you to know that even though I cannot watch you where you are, you do have a Heavenly Father who watches over you and sees everything you do all the time.” I wanted my son to be aware that even though temptations would come his way, God was sovereign and watching. I said “God has a line drawn around you, and I have put enough of His Word and knowledge of Him in you that if you try to cross the line of His protection, and walk away from Him, the Word that I have put in you will haunt you.”
This was a mother’s loving warning to him.
Years later, when he was all grown and living on his own, he came to visit, and as we visited he said, “Mom, I want you to know the Word did haunt me and I could never walk away!”
When my daughter was ready to go off to college, I reminded her of the same principle,”What teaching I have put in you in all these years, you now have growing in you. You know what is expected of you by God and your parents.” More did not have to be said for she understood.
The one emphasis I raised my children with was that “Life is choices, and choices have consequences!” If you don’t study, you will have bad grades. If you have bad grades, you will not be able to go to a good college. If you goof around, keep bad company, get into trouble, the consequences will follow you through your life. As you sow, so shall you reap!
My children learned the lessons, some easy, some not so easy. Now they teach their children!
Galatians 6: 7 Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8a For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. (WEB)
God Himself has set this principle into motion and it is eternal in that how we live here also determines what rewards we get in Heaven! It really does matter for all Eternity!!
These photos below show some ways you can choose to sow to the flesh:
Photos from Pexel
Galatians 5: 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.(AKJV)
You get the picture! right?!
You sow evil, you reap evil!
If you think God can’t see you, my friend, think again! There is not a place you can hide from God. Psalm 139: 8 makes clear that even if you make your bed in Hell, God sees you.
Listen, my friend, Satan’s job is to tempt us . . . plain and simple.
John 10: 10 The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.(AKJV)
Jesus is speaking of Satan as the thief who desires to take away our peace, our lives, and to ultimately destroy our souls for Eternity. This same Satan is known as Shaitaan, djail, diable, diablo, diavol, devil, rakshas, bhoot, iblis, jinn and other names in different languages but he is the same all over the World . . . the enemy of our souls.
The works of the flesh listed in the above scripture all lead to certain death and an Eternity away from God and in hell, from where there is no escape. Look at the list again:
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like . . .
Know that when it says “and such like” it means the list is not complete, there are many other sins that we can add to this list.
On the flip side:
Gal. 6: 8b But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.(AKJV)
How and what does one sow to the Spirit?
If we walk in the fear (reverent respect) of the Lord, and have His Spirit living within us, we can have His help through the Holy Spirit as well:
Galatians 5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.(AKJV)
Ephesians 5: 9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth (AKJV)
We are told that if we walk by the Spirit we will sow these seeds of love, joy, peace, goodness, righteousness and more. As we sow these, the harvest will be a good one in our own lives! Who doesn’t want that?!
Photos from Pexel
Jesus also said:
Matthew 7: 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.(BSB)
You too will be known by the fruit your life produces. I fully expect that none of us will ever please everyone in our lives. There will always be naysayers, people who just will never love us, like us or approve of us. That’s life. Yet there will be people who will notice the good deeds, and your character will be known. Here is a question: Are you able to withstand even bad people and do right nonetheless? Remember, Jesus had many enemies, and He remained without sin.
Lest you think the results of sowing seeds (good or bad) are immediate, remember that harvest takes time. My dear friend now struggles with her breathing and has to carry a small oxygen tank with her whenever she goes out. When she was smoking three packs a day as a young adult, she didn’t think of the consequences. It took years, but her harvest did come in the form of COPD.
A teenager I knew didn’t think much of his drug use for it felt like fun, until the night he overdosed and ended up losing his life. His harvest did come earlier than he thought.
A number of men who have come for counseling have not thought much of the seed they sowed in abusing their wives . . . until the harvest came in the form of a broken marriage ending in divorce.
I also have known those who by persistence and patience have continued to do right and have gained a good reward such as a promotion, or success in business.
Patience is a virtue God wishes us to cultivate.
There was a time in my life when I was being tested and tried thoroughly. One day I sat and wept before the Lord, my heart was broken for the lies that were being told about me. I cried to the Lord, “Lord, my honor and my integrity are all that I have clung to, and now my enemies are doing all they can to strip me of even that!!”
He instantly gave me a vision of Jesus on the Cross, and said, “My Son hung naked on the Cross for you! How much suffering have you endured?”
I couldn’t do anything but hang my head in shame, “If they did that to my Lord, what am I complaining about?”
Do you follow, my friend?! There is nothing, no reason big enough, no excuse nor self pity that would give you legitimate justification to walk a road that leads to destruction of self or others. No reason at all!
God has paid the price completely for all. You are part of the “ALL.”
Whatever you are into that is not pleasing to Him, stop, and turn away from that wrong. Stop!
Stop sowing sin and you will stop reaping the consequences of sin!
Start sowing righteousness . . . right living, and you will reap the right rewards.
Above all, look to Him, and He will give you grace to carry on in His way.
Come on now . . .
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