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In Galatians Chapter 6 and verse 7 we read this:
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap."
This is an eternal principal as old as time. There is no
one who is wise enough or wealthy enough to escape its sure result. We
all believe this to be true, and then too often act as if we have a
personal right to do as we please, and things will just turn out all
right somehow. This is a self-deception of the most childish nature. To
have friends we must be friendly - to be loved we must love. To be a
faultfinder and a critic of others means that we will soon be
criticized and fault will be found in us. The Bible is a book of common
sense and solid reasoning. We believe these truths to be the rock
foundation of a worthwhile life.
So many of the Christian doctrines are as simple as
this, and as easy to follow. So very many of these divine promises are,
not only for our soul's salvation, but also for our greatest happiness
and peace of mind in the here and now. Jesus said, "I am come that you
may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly" John 10:10. He
further said in John 14 and verse 6, "I am the way, the truth and the
life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me". If the Son of God is
able to do as He surely intended, every person who obeys Him and
follows His teaching can be happy and useful in this life, and the life
to come beyond these troubled days.
Now all of this is an effort to say that we live in a
world of cause and effect. If we put certain ingredients together, we
have water. If we put certain other ingredients together, we have salt.
Every single time we put these basic chemicals together, under the same
conditions, we have the same result. This is not only true in
chemistry; it is also true in the laboratory of life. Many situations
in life bring joy and happiness. Since this is not a matter of pure
coincidence or blind fortune, we can be sure of the result when we do
the things that create a joyful or happy occasion.
It necessarily follows that many conditions of life
produce unrest and misery. We should know the reason for our
unhappiness, and do as much as we possibly can to prevent sorrow and
suffering. We are free to sow as we choose. We are not free to reap as
we choose. By our thoughts and in our deeds we are forced to live with
poor choices and foolish results. So much of our pain could be easily
prevented with normal forethought and reasoning.
For instance, we sometimes have an appetite or at least
a taste for things, which we can't endure, without suffering. If a man
has strong desires for highly seasoned food, and hot peppers in
particular, and he also knows that indigestion is sure to follow his
indulgence, why will he enjoy at six o'clock that which he will despise
at 9:30? We simply have to reap in the way that we have sown. It is a
strange quirk in our intelligence, or in the lack of it, that we can
see the bitter fruits of drunkenness, and knowing the inescapable
consequence, continue on a path of destruction.
Why will a person sow the seeds of misconduct, crime and
punishment? Why partake in the evening of that which will embarrass and
shame in the morning? Perhaps I have made it all sound too simple. No
one intends to disgrace himself and have the disapproval of friends and
neighbors and the good Lord. This is where Satan comes in with skill
and cleverness. Even he could not persuade us to choose a life of
wickedness. No one ever decided to be a known liar and cheat. So, the
great temptations are to sow, mostly good gospel seed, with just a
little dishonesty here and there. Just a little immorality now and then
- just a little rebellion and refusal of God. And because so many are
living this kind of life, we believe that maybe we can get by with it.
This mixture of light and darkness is the root and source of
frustration and confusion. Our text began by saying, "be not deceived.
You can't make a mockery of this". If you make a list of all the things
you know that cause pain and sorrow, you will have a list of many sins
to be personally avoided. If you make a list of things that always
produce joy and peace, personal contentment and hope for the future,
you will have a near normal schedule of Jesus' Way to live, for all of
us.
The reason for this is that the Bible is the Word and
the Will of God. Read it to be wise, obey it’s teaching for your
soul's salvation. If we can be of assistance to you, it will be a
pleasure to meet you and explain to you the Bible plan of salvation.
This of course is not our opinion. It is the Word of God, the seed of
the Kingdom.
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