"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction" (Galations 6:7-8a). This is the concept in the negative, and the way I usually hear it used--Beware, you reap what you sow!--and that is the truth; we find it over and over again in the scriptures. But it is, in a way, the evil twin, the flip side, of a very great promise. Galations 7:8 continues, "the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life"!

Let me first offer the disclaimer: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith . . . not by works so no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph. 2:8-10). Whatever we sow, it is by the incomparable grace of God that good comes forth. Still we can not ignore the fact that God has "supplied seed to the sower" (II Cor. 9:10) and has ordained a harvest. He has not given up control of any situation, but He has called us to action and made some promises to those who are faithful to follow His direction.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt. 5:7); "Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:37-38); "Whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (II Cor. 9:6b). God has promised that when we sow good things, we will reap good things.

The promises are not only for this world, but will follow us into eternity. "Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' 'Yes,' says the Spirit, they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them'" (Rev. 14:13). "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened which is the book of life. The dead were judged  according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done" (Rev. 20:11-13).

Certainly our works will follow us beyond the grave. It is prudent to consider what harvest we will lay before God at the Judgement before His great white throne. Choose the seed carefully--prayerfully. Then be of good cheer--you reap what you sow!

Lord of the Harvest, I want my works to honor You. Help me to be wise in choosing the seed I sow; help me to be diligent in tending the good seed; help me to encourage others to do the same (without being prideful); and help me be busy in Your fields until You come or call me home. Amen