The laws of the harvest – sowing and reaping – can be both positive and negative in their consequences. We don’t have a choice as to whether the seeds we plant are going to bear fruit, they will. The only option we have is what kind of seed we sow. We can sow good seeds or bad seeds; temporary seeds or eternal seeds; the choice is always ours. The facts still remains however, that we will reap the same kind in a different season. This is true whether we are talking about money, relationships, raising our children, or growing a business.
We live in a world of instant gratification. Instant everything like fast foods, instant grits, DSL internet service, we want faster and when we have to wait 30 seconds for something, we get frustrated. It seems as though whether it’s health, or wealth, or spiritual growth, or you name it, we want to reap without ever sowing. We don’t want to put forth an effort; just reap the benefits. Have you ever heard of something called “jogging in a jug”? It’s a concoction of 4 parts grape juice; 4 parts apple juice; 1 part apple cider vinegar…Mmmm. It’s a folk remedy for high cholesterol…a kind of Draino for the arteries! I don’t know if it works, but it is guaranteed to make your face pucker for about 3 minutes. You don’t have to strap on your Nike’s and “Just do it” you could just grab a glass and “just drink it!” And, please pass the jelly donuts!
We laugh, but what we are doing is trying to repeal the law of sowing and reaping. We want to sever the connection between actions and consequences. Not just with our eating habits, but with every area of our lives. We want instant gratification without having to pay the price.
There is a good example in the story of King David in 2 Samuel chapter 11 – It’s the story of David’s affair with Bathsheba. There is an old saying that “sin will take you father than you expected to go, keep you longer than you expected to stay, and cost you more than you expected to pay!” The seed of David’s sin resulted in his families devastation. David’s first child by Bathsheba died; the women of David’s household were sexually assaulted by his own son Absalom; His own daughter was raped by her half-brother; David later lost both of his sons; Amnon was murdered by Absalom and Absalom was killed by Joab for trying to take over his father David’s throne.
Some of the things we read in the Old Testament may seem rather harsh to us, but remember that God has set standards; boundaries; and laws that when crossed or disobeyed, result in unpleasant consequences. Many of you reading this right now know of someone who’s life would be different if not for the “bad or good” seeds sown by their parents…(different season) We can forgive and find forgiveness, but the laws of the harvest can only be changed by the mercy and grace of God.
I myself have sown some bad seeds in the past that I am not proud of, and I am seeing the consequence of that even today, but I have also sown some good seeds, some eternal seeds, of which I may not see the harvest of until Jesus comes again. The difference is that – with the help of God – I began to change the seeds I was planting. The Apostle Paul put it this way in Ephesians 4:22-24 and 5:8-10 – “You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it’s deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”…”For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live then as children of light. For the fruit of the light consists of all goodness; righteousness; and truth, and find out what pleases the Lord. Be very careful then how you live – not as unwise but as wise – making the most of every opportunity…”
Can you see what this would have to do with the law of the harvest? So what is the lesson? If you don’t do anything, you will reap a garden of weeds! But, if you want to see good, fruitful results – no matter what the subject – then you must plant good seeds and do your best to keep out the tares and the weeds! You may or may not see the harvest…but your children and grandchildren will!
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