“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7,8).

The law of cause and effect is well known in science, but it finds equal application in the spiritual realm. With a clear, calm eye the apostle lays open our future based on what and how we sow. Several points come to mind as we ponder this process.

There is no reaping without sowing. Conversely there is no sowing without reaping. There are consequences to each action. In character and in life circumstances everything we do carries both temporal and eternal weight. The actions of the sinner will turn on him and become an unbearable burden, but the Spirit-directed life of the godly will return with joy and fulfillment. The reaping will be both in kind and in measure.

There is no sowing without choosing. As the farmer must choose between corn and wheat, so we must choose between the flesh and the Spirit. With eternity in mind, Earth is the choosing ground, and the time of choosing will end. “He which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still” (Revelation 22:11).

There is no choosing without a difference. A person cannot choose the one without leaving the other. “If the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21).

There is no difference without a Savior. Christ Jesus makes the difference. He is the One who has flooded our prison cell with light, bought us out of slavery to sin, and made us His dear children. Because of His grace we can choose and sow aright and reap life everlasting. JDM