Cause And Effect!

Paul admonished…
“(7) DO NOT BE DECEIVED: God is not mocked, for WHATEVER ONE SOWS, THAT WILL HE ALSO REAP. (8) For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” ( Galatians 6:7-8 ESV)

As this principle of sowing and reaping is true in a horticultural sense, Paul made it abundantly clear that it is just as true spiritually. We are surrounded in life by examples of “cause and effect” even though there are many who do not want to accept personal responsibility for their situation in life. It is true that some things just happen. However, we need to be honest with regard to those things that happen because of the choices we have made. We cannot acknowledge God and then live anyway we like and expect God’s blessing to continue with us.

As Isaiah spoke to Israel for God he exhorted…
“(15) For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ‘IN RETURNING AND REST YOU SHALL BE SAVED; IN QUIETNESS AND IN TRUST SHALL BE YOUR STRENGTH.’ But you were unwilling, (16) and you said, ‘No! We will flee upon horses’; therefore you shall flee away; and, ‘We will ride upon swift steeds’; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.” ( Isaiah 30:15-16 ESV)

Even though God had offered His promises to Israel, they were a rebellious people. They rejected God and focused on their own efforts. If only they would have kept their focus on returning and resting with a quiet trust in God. However, because of their unwillingness they would find themselves fleeing even from the smallest threat. ( Isaiah 30:17) They were reaping in accordance to what they had sown.

Remember when Jesus was rejected, He cried over the city of Jerusalem saying, “Would that you, even you, HAD KNOWN on this day THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” ( Luke 19:42 ESV) Then He spoke of Jerusalem’s destruction. If only they had recognized and properly responded to His teaching.

A couple chapters further in Isaiah we find another glimmer of hope.
“(17) And the EFFECT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE PEACE, and THE RESULT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, QUIETNESS AND TRUST FOREVER.” ( Isaiah 32:17 ESV)

The effect of RIGHTEOUSNESS would be peace, quietness and trust (“assurance”, NKJV) forever. Cause and effect. It is the sowing of RIGHTEOUSNESS (that which is right in accordance with God’s Will) that we are to be sowing. True to the principle of sowing and reaping, we will then be able to look to God for a harvest of RIGHTEOUSNESS. ( 2 Corinthians 9:10)

If we are in need of returning to God in a spirit of repentance we can again find the assurance of salvation and strength. With His help we can begin uprooting what should not have been sown in our life so that a RIGHTEOUS harvest can be possible. On our own we will find no such hope. May we remain steadfast in a trusting relationship with God as we continually seek His Will to more fully become ours.

Have a great day LIVING FOR A HARVEST THAT CAN PLEASE BOTH GOD AND US!
Carl

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