Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
These are familiar words for most of us; found within them are six immutable laws you need to know.
1. To believe an outcome will be different than what God states in Scripture is to be self-deluded. Too often we know what the Scriptures say but hope or believe our situation is somehow different. A nonbeliever might “reasonably” think this way (although even for such a person it wouldn’t really be reasonable), but it is lunacy for a Christian to think that God can be outmaneuvered so that His words don’t come to pass.
2. All people sow seed. The metaphor used is easily understood; all of us know what it means to sow seed and all of us do it! What we think, what we say, and what we do ARE the seeds we sow. We either sow in accordance with His will (sow to the Spirit) or we don’t (sow to the flesh). We can’t, at the same time, sow seed in accordance to His will and seed that aren’t.
3. All people will reap a harvest. Seed sown to the flesh will reap a harvest of eternal punishment because deeds of the flesh always bring that result (Gal. 5:19-21). Seed sown to the Spirit will reap eternal life because that is what is promised (Gal. 6:8).
4. The harvest is inevitable. God has promised both seedtime (as applied in our text, is what we do in our lifetime) and harvest (Gen. 8:22). We can’t walk away from what we did in life, nor can we disown it. Seed will produce a harvest.
5. The harvest is always greater than the seed. A single seed sown to the flesh (sin) often brings immeasurable harvest with results extending beyond our lifetime. A seed sown to the Spirit is no less effective. Knowing this to be true, we should be eager to sow as much seed to the Spirit as we can. This isn’t to earn salvation that only comes by His grace, but that we might extend the invitation of salvation to as many as possible.
6. Benefiting from the seed resulting in eternal life is conditional. “…If we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9). Some people say things like “I used to be a Christian, but I got over it.” As foolish as that statement is, it is no less foolish to be a practicing Christian for a while and then let your passion or your “first love” dissipate (Rev. 2:4). When we find ourselves having lost that first love, which is evidenced by leaving off the deeds (sowing) we once did, we need to repent (Rev. 2:5).
Galatians 6:7-9 is a powerful passage that gives the strategies for both victory and defeat. It’s up to you!
Keep studying and keep serving! DC Brown ©2014