SOWING AND REAPING

GALATIANS 6:7

A. THE LAWS OF NATURE CONTROL SOWING AND REAPING
  1. Each seed after its kind: Gen. 1:11, 12; Jas. 3:12
  2. The growth of vegetation is controlled, not by man, but the condition of the soil, weather and moisture:
B. OUR LIFE IS, IN MOST INSTANCES, THE TIME TO SOW
  1. Some sow upon the flesh:
    1. Sow wickedness - Job 4:8
    2. Reap the fruit of it - 2 Sam. 12:11
    3. Sow iniquity,
    4. And reap vanity - Prov. 22:8 EXAMPLES -
      1. Gehazi and gifts - 2 Ki. 5:21-27
      2. Haman and the Jews - Esth. 7:10
      3. Achan and the accursed things - Josh. 7:20-26
  2. Others sow upon the Spirit:
    1. Sterling purity -- Joseph in Egypt - Gen. 39:1-12
    2. Loving loyalty to principles of truth -- Daniel and his friends - Dan. 1:8 3:16-26; 6:10-28
    3. Love -- Jonathan and David - 1 Sam. 20:42; 2 Sam. 9:1-7
    4. Patience -- Job, a symbol of patience and its reward - Jas. 5:11
    5. Faith -- the woman from Canaan - Matt. 15:22-28 The list of those who sowed upon the Spirit could be multiplied, but these examples will suffice.
C. HARVEST TIME
  1. Sowing and reaping are nature's twins:
    1. Where there is no seeding there can be no harvest; that is a law quite well understood by most people.
    2. The laws of sowing and reaping seem to be unchangeable; are true to the season as planned by the Creator - Eccl. 3:1-2
  2. This is true, also, of our earthly lives:
    1. There is a time when we have opportunity to sow -- thoughts, words, and deeds.
    2. Seeding time is followed by harvest - Gal. 6:7, 8
    3. Sow a thought and reap an action; sow an action and reap a blessing or a curse.
  3. We know of some misguided souls:
    1. Who think that God is merciful and that we will not harvest the results of sin, but that is an illusion on their part.
    2. Our opening text states very clearly: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
  4. Let us note these eternal truths:
    1. The seriousness of this present life -
      1. God will hold us accountable for what we do or say - Matt. 12:36, 37
      2. That we shall not escape the results of our deeds in the body - 2 Cor. 5:10
      3. That God does not pay at every turn, but He will surely pay at last.
    2. The importance of sowing upon the spirit and not upon the flesh -
      1. Sow upon the flesh and reap corruption.
      2. Sow upon the Spirit and reap eternal life.


Design © John Bryant 2011