THE LAW OF THE HARVEST
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8
I. BE NOT DECEIVED
Paul’s warning was not a hollow one. There are many things that might seek to deceive us. We must be constantly on guard lest we be drawn away from serving the Lord. Carefully consider each of these.
A. Satan seeks to deceive you: Mocking God, Satan told Eve, “Yea hath God said?” (Genesis 3:1) Satan is a deceiver and he is very good at what he does. He has over 6000 years of experience practicing his craft.
B. The world seeks to deceive you in all areas of life. This statement needs no proof for we have all seen it being played out on television, movies, and in various and sundry ways. Let’s look at three of these ways in which the world will seek to deceive us. The world will seek to deceive us:
1. Morally: The world tells you “if it feels good, do it!” The world claims strength in numbers declaring that “Everybody does it!”
2. Academically: Our youth are being taught “The Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, i.e. evolution. Students, from grade school to graduate school, are taught evolution as though it was a proven, scientific fact; not as the far-fetched theory with no supporting evidence that it is.
3. Spiritually: Today we have an abundance of false doctrines being spread around the world. Paul warned of this in I Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”
Another thing that confronts us is the increase of worldliness in many of our churches. Heard from many pulpits is the "Good Lord, Good Devil" philosophy. Just send the folks home feeling good about themselves, even if they are still dead in their trespasses and sins and on their way to hell.
Our Lord had harsh words for the wealthy, but worldly, Laodicean church. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ’I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:15-19)
C. A man’s own heart can deceive him. Consider these two Scriptures.
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) Someone might be swift to say “Well, that was in the period before the flood.” And they would be right in saying that but the nature of unredeemed man has not changed, This fact is forcefully stated in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it?”
II. GOD IS NOT MOCKED
To mock means “to treat with contempt or scorn; to defy or challenge.” Men mocked God in Paul’s day and He is mocked by many today. Paul knew that there were those who mocked God, often in his very presence. So, what did Paul mean when he wrote, “God is not mocked?” The answer is found in the remainder of that verse, “for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” A parallel Scripture is found in Numbers 32:23, "But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.”
Man may mock God but he can be sure that his sin will find him out. There are consequences for all that we do or say and the sin of mocking God will bear bitter fruit unless His forgiveness is sought. Let’s look at how men may mock God today.
A. Treat God with contempt or scorn;
God’s Word, the Bible, is held in contempt by many. God’s Son is cursed and God’s Name profaned. Christians are held up to ridicule. The Church is chided and derided by the worldly crowd.
B. To defy God or challenge His authority in one’s life.
“Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,” Hebrews 3:12-14
III. MAN REAPS WHAT HE SOWS
The universal law of the harvest is that we reap what we sow. “Whatever a man sows, THAT he will also reap.” Only a fool would plant cotton and expect to harvest peanuts. Those who sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap destruction. Those who sow to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life. A man would do well to stop thinking that the law of the spiritual harvest does not apply to him, that somehow, he is exempt from its consequences. No one is exempt!
IV. MAN REAPS MORE THAN HE SOWS
Another aspect of the law of the harvest is that we reap far more than we sow. No man would prepare a field, sow and till it, expecting only a one for one return. No, the expectation is for a manifold increase. While the world accepts this premise in the physical world, they somehow reject its application in the spiritual realm.
Concerning the apostasy of His people Israel, God pronounced His judgment saying, "They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7) Throughout the 2800 years since Hosea uttered this prophetic truth, history has validated it time and time again.
And so it shall be in the life of everyone who ignores God and His Son, Christ Jesus. Indeed, “God now commands all men everywhere to repent.” (Acts 17:30)
Let us conclude by harkening to the words of Paul as he witnessed before the Roman magistrate, "Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” (Acts 26:19-20)
