In Galatians 6:7,8 the Apostle Paul tells us that what we sow, we reap, only not in the same form (1 Cor. 15:37. For example, if we obey God’s Law He will bless us in ways that have no direct tie to His Ten Commandments. In Second Corinthians 9:6 Paul explains that if we sow much we will reap much and visa versa. There is another part of God’s Law that few people know about, or if they do, they ignore it: “There is no curse without a cause” (Prov. 26:2). We will deal with the curse aspect of sowing and reaping in the following segment. With that in mind, we will now turn to one of my most-used references–Deuteronomy 28–because it highlights both outcomes of the Lord’s Law of sowing and reaping. Leviticus 26 teaches the same lesson. In the New Testament, the Words of Jesus Christ Himself confirm the Old Testament prophets recorded for God’s people living at the end of the age, the age in which we now find ourselves (1 Cor. 10:11). Scripturally, it is known as the Laodicean era written about in Revelation 3:14-20. Read that passage for insight into God’s view of the modern day church. Now on to Deuteronomy 28.

In verses one through 13 the Lord speaks about His reaction to the one who “hearkens diligently to the LORD HIS GOD AND DOES (OBEYS) ALL OF HIS COMMANDMENTS ….” Here God is referring to sowing righteousness bountifully by obeying His Law at all times and in all situations. Over the following 12 verses He promises His obedient servants that He will bless them by placing them above all other people. Many types of blessings will be poured out on them. He will bless their children, the produce of their fields and of their livestock. Their enemies will come at them one way and flee seven ways. He promises to bless their storehouses by keeping them filled. He promises to bless everything the obedient ones set their hand to do. He will establish them as His holy people whom the world will recognize as His people and will fear them. He will send rain in due season so that their crops and livestock will prosper and multiply. A personal example of this promise being fulfilled is in order.

A few years ago I was reminded that the Almighty had promised His obedient saints that He would “send them rain in due season.” I live in East Texas where rain is normally scarce, which means that East Texans must water their yards once or twice each week from April to September in order for grass and shrubbery to live. I have not watered my yard one time in the past three years. My grass and shrubbery have never looked so good. Also, a wooded area behind my property has not only survived, but has flourished beautifully since I remembered the Lord’s “rain in due season” promise and told Him I believed His Words. But understand this: three acts must be undertaken in order for God to fulfill His promises in this life: 1) We must KNOW His promises. 2) We must BELIEVE His promises. 3) We must obey His Law.

Verse 14 is especially significant because it reveals God’s view of those who deviate from His Ten Commandment Law which covers every sin a person can commit. Here He identifies any deviation from His Law as committing apostasy (falling away from Him) and going after other gods in order to serve them, which is idolatry, which is the transgression of His first commandment. Understand this: it does not matter what man thinks, believes or rationalizes about what he does that is different from what God commands; GOD’S ATTITUDE IS THE ONLY ATTITUDE THAT MATTERS. I have heard people explain their disobedience by saying that they had a good reason for doing so. Adam and Eve had a good reason for disobeying God’s rule about eating the fruit of a certain tree. They did so because the Serpent had assured them that their (spiritual) eyes would be opened and they would be like gods–able to determine what is good and what is evil (Gen. 3:4,5). As they soon learned, their attitude and their reasonings did not count. Neither do the attitudes and reasonings of their religious descendants today who, like them, are spiritually dead. The church is a spiritual “zombie apocalypse” on a global scale.

In Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus speaks directly to the subject of the sowing and reaping. In verse 24 He tells us that whosoever hears His Words and obeys them is wise, and that good things will come his way. In verses 13 and 14 He warns about being in the right group within the church (sheepfold) by having entered it through the strait (difficult) door (gate) and by walking His narrow (no deviation) way throughout life. These are the people who can ask what they want and expect to have their requests honored by their LORD (THEIR MASTER WHO MUST BE OBEYED).

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus makes some incredible promises to those who obey Him. Here tells His obedient SPIRITUAL BRETHREN AND HIS SPIRITUAL FRIENDS to: “Ask and IT (not something else) will be given to you; seek and you will find WHAT YOU SEEK, (not something else); knock and IT (THE DOOR ON WHICH ONE KNOCKS, (not some other door) will be opened unto you.” He repeats the message in verse eight. The question is: WHO ARE HIS TRUE BRETHREN AND FRIENDS. Read Matthew 12:46-50 and John 15:13,14 to find out.

We have looked at one part of the sowing and reaping formula as presented by the Lord. In the next segment we will look at the other part which deals with sinners in the church, as well as those outside of the church. L.J.