God’s universal law of sowing and reaping is immutable and inescapable.This law requires that a man will reap whatever he sows.The fruit of any harvest is according to the seed that is sown, for "like begets like,” and there is nothing in the world that can change the eternal principle.This law governs the visible, natural world (Gen. 1:11-12, 24-25), and it governs the invisible, spiritual world as well (Gal. 6:7-9).
Evidence of this law is all around us, and yet so many people live in willful ignorance of it in spiritual things.Such people seek for a harvest of goodness, but they sow the seeds of destruction.Their way is self-destructive, and as they begin to reap the results of their own sinful choices, their path becomes harder and harder.
Consider the counsel of God’s Proverbs in regards to a sinner’s hard road.Notice the contrast between the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous.
·"The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.” (Prov. 3:33)
·"The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, but He will reject the craving of the wicked.” (Prov. 10:3)
·"What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.” (Prov. 10:24)
·"When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” (Prov. 10:25)
·"Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.” (Prov. 11:21)
·"He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.” (Prov. 11:27)
·"Will they not go astray who devise evil ? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.” (Prov. 14:22)
·"He who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.” (Prov. 17:13)
·"Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and blows for the back of fools.” (Prov. 19:29)
·"A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.” (Prov. 21:16)
·"He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, and the rod of his fury will perish.” (Prov. 22:8)
Indeed, the road of sin is hard, but God has provided an easier way so that no one has to suffer sin’s difficult path.This easier way is through the Lord Jesus Christ, and He appeals to us to come out of the weariness of sin and into His rest.Notice Christ’s words in Matthew 11:28-30:
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Nevertheless, many remain obstinate, and they refuse God’s gracious gift through Christ.Such people are repeating the mistakes of many who came before them and suffered the hard road of sin they chose.The people of Judah made this error, and the prophet Jeremiah acknowledged their refusal to accept God’s appeal for their rest in Jeremiah 6:16:
"Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Let us not be as the people of Judah in Jeremiah’s time, but instead let us embrace the gracious offer of the Lord for an easier road.Rest for the soul is very appealing for one who is sin-sick and tired of the hard road of Satan, and that rest is found in the ancient paths of God’s goodness and the faithful paths of Christ’s gospel.May we all come the Lord and find His rest.
