FEBRUARY 16, 2023
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7)
Whether or not I will sow today is not a question to be decided. The only question to be decided is: What kind of seed will I sow; shall it be good seed or bad? Every person is always sowing for his own harvest. Accordingly, as a man sows, so shall he expect to reap? He that sows the wind of vanity shall reap the whirlwind of wrath. (Hos. 8:7) In the words of Thomas Carlyle, “Cast forth thy act, thy word, into the ever-living, ever-working universe: it is a seed-grain that cannot die: unnoticed today, it will be found flourishing as a Banyan grove (perhaps, alas! As a Hemlock forest) after a thousand years.”
God is not mocked, and therefore He is not to be trifled with. They that would mock God mock themselves instead. Notice, the verse does not say, “God should not be mocked,” but rather, that He “is not mocked.” Let us, therefore, understand that the laws of His government cannot be set aside. It is so in nature. God’s laws are inexorable. Gravitation crushes him who opposes it. So is it also in providence, that evil results surely follow social wrong. Our conscience tells us that it must be so; sin must be punished. The word of God is very clear about this necessity. To alter the laws would disarrange the universe, and destroy the foundation of the hope of the righteous.
It is an inexorable law that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Evil sowing will bring evil reaping. “He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” (Vs. 8a) This is seen in the present results of certain sins. Sins of lust can disease the body. Sins of idolatry have often led men to cruel and degrading practice. Sins of temper have caused murders, wars, strife, and misery. Sins of indulgence have caused many societal hardships and miseries. The worst part of the present harvest is a precursor to the greater harvest as the sinner becomes more and more hardened against repentance and the more obnoxious to God. Men do not set out on purpose to cast themselves away, but sin is eminently deceitful, and will ultimately cost the sinner his soul.
There is another kind of sowing of which the harvest shall be glorious and abundant. “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Vs. 8b) Good sowing will bring good reaping. The rule holds good both ways. Notice, this sowing is done “to the Spirit,” and its reaping is “of the Spirit.”This sowing is done under the guidance and influence of the Holy Spirit. This good sowing is also “to the Spirit” in that, its motives and aim is God’s glory. “He that soweth to the Spirit.” Toward God, we sow in the Spirit faith and obedience. Toward men, we sow in the Spirit love, truth, justice, kindness, and forbearance. Toward self, we sow self-control, purity, etc. In both Greek and Hebrew, the word for wind and spirit are the same. Jesus said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth.” Then he said, “…so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) In this seedtime, those who are led by the Holy Spirit will walk and minister as Christ did. Let us sow good seed always. Let us sow it plentifully, that we may reap abundantly. Hosea said, “Sow to yourself in righteousness, reap in mercy.” For those who sow to the Spirit, what is the reaping of the Spirit? It is life everlasting. “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
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