From the beginning of time, God ordained that in the realm of nature seed would reproduce after their kind (Genesis 1:11-12). This is a consistent and immutable law of nature. Every farmer knows that if he plants corn seed he will reap corn, not wheat or soybeans. Every gardener knows that if she plants squash seed she will reap squash, not cucumbers or watermelons.
This unvarying law is also true in the moral and spiritual realm. Paul wrote: “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 (fleshly lusts and desires, hf) will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit (lives according to the instructions of the Holy Spirit as set forth in the Holy Scriptures, hf) will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8). Or, as the apostle said elsewhere, “For to be carnally (fleshly, hf) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6). How odd it is, therefore, that those who struggle to find joy and peace in their lives ignore the very thing that produces such!
We see the law of reaping what we sow at work in many areas of life.
On June 23 of this year a young man was convicted of the horrific aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery of a Vanderbilt University coed that took place four years ago to the date of his conviction. He is now facing a prison term of at least fifteen years. Two other young men have already been tried and convicted for the same crime and are serving fifteen year prison terms. A fourth young man has pleaded guilty to the same crime and testified against the other three. He, too, is now facing trial unless a plea deal is struck. All of them are former Vanderbilt football players.
The crime occurred after a night of drinking and partying by one of the men and the young woman. She had passed out from a drink her date had given her and woke up six hours later in an empty dorm room she did not recognize, having been assaulted and sexually violated. In their drunken stupor and euphoria the men had taken pictures of their deed with their cell phones, pictures which were recovered by detectives and used as evidence against them. Five people—the victim and the four perpetrators of the crime—are now reaping physically and emotionally what they sowed.
When will we humans learn that we cannot imbibe alcohol, use drugs, engage in sex outside of marriage, lie, steal, cheat, speak disrespectfully of others, fail to honor our parents, be untrue to our marriage vows, exhibit pride and egotism, manifest a total lack of integrity, display vanity in our lives, neglect the worship of God, advocate or adhere to unbiblical teaching, handle our finances irresponsibly, overeat, fail to exercise, etc., etc. and not reap what we sow—both spiritually and physically? “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him” (Proverbs 26:27).
Some people seem to think they can sow their “wild oats” on Saturday night then go to church on Sunday morning and pray for a crop failure! Sorry, but it does not work that way! “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.” Quite literally, the phrase means one cannot “turn up his nose” to God. We may “turn up our nose” to others, but not to God. “For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” As the late great gospel preacher, Ira North, used to say, “You can’t do wrong and get by with it.” Or, as the grand old Baptist preacher, Robert G. Lee, in a sermon he preached over one thousand times, emphasized so dramatically – “Pay Day, Some Day”!
Yes, we will reap what we sow. Make no mistake about it!
Hugh Fulford
