Driving through the countryside I see men and women working hard to bring in the harvest. Each one toiling earnestly so that none of the harvest is missed. They labor harvesting what had been planted weeks, months, or even years ago. So it is in life that we harvest what we have planted.
In your journey through life you are always sowing and reaping. Today's harvest is a result of actions and attitudes that were expressed in the preceding days and years of your life. Your body is a good example of reaping what you sow. Failing to eat right and not exercizing will result in a body that does not function well and is prone to disease and pain. In your relationships if you sow the seeds of anger and bitterness you will harvest rejection and loneliness. If you plant the seeds of encouragement and peace you will harvest fellowship and joy. Some people use and abuse others for their selfish gain and so harvest the fear that they will be used, abused, or taken advantage of. They live in the fear of what they have done to others will be done to them. It seems to me that the great truth in the Bible that says, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you" would be a wise planting guide.
You may say that you have planted a lot of weeds and bitter herbs in the garden of your life but that does not mean that you can not change what you harvest in the future. Today you can choose to uproot the weeds and replant with good seeds that will produce a life-giving harvest of joy and peace. What are you sowing in your life today? What you sow will be evident in your future. Choose to sow good seeds.
Communities also harvest what they plant. Consider a community that has planted many bars and night clubs. It is only logical that they will harvest a great number of people with addictions to alcohol, poverty, and immorality. If a community neglects the needs of those around them the result will be factions, distrust, envy, and even violence. Today we see the effects of what we have planted in our towns, cities, states, and nation. Perhaps it is time to take a good look at what we are planting and ask ourselves whether this is the harvest result we desire for the future. Isn't it time that we get serious about the seeds we are planting in our schools, workplace, and homes? The broken homes, the immorality, the violence and greed are all a result of what has been planted in the past. The only way to change the harvest is to change the seed. You can't plant tomatoes and harvest oranges.
Churches also harvest what they plant. We live in a society that has become biblically illiterate. Some think that Father Abraham is Abraham Lincoln instead of the Abraham from Genesis. Why have we become a people who know little about the Word of God? Could it be that we have chosen to plant more of the world's seed in our lives that the seed (the Word) of God? Rather than spend time in worship and the Word of God we surf the internet, go to the mall, attend weekend sports games rather than going to church, Bible study, or even maintaining private devotions. So many have let the seeds of comfort take root in their lives that to make a sacrifice for the cause of Christ is something that can't be expected of them. Churches have gotten complacent about reaching their communities for Christ because it would require them to be involved and connected to the needs of their communities and require effort and service. Who knows they might even have to experience change. Could our communities be changed if our churches started to plant the seed of the Word of God into the lives of the people? Would our world look a lot different if we let the light shine and the salt out of the shaker? It is time for the church to examine the seed it is sowing and the harvest it expects. Let us begin to sow the true seed that brings a harvest of life. Let us remember that what we sow we get and what you do come back to you.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Gal 6:7-10 (NIV)
May we begin to plant good seeds in our lives, our communities, and our churches in order to bring in a harvest of life, hope, and peace. May God bless you as you go forth planting and harvesting.
God bless us, everyone.
Pastor Chuck