What goes around

 

It is comforting to know that God has ordained the affairs of men so that “What goes around comes around.”

I have been frustrated of late by what appears to be a steady increase of injustice.

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8)

There seems to be a cultural drift away from biblical ethics and morality, and I feel helpless to do anything about it. It’s comforting to know that the LORD will ultimately do something about it and has already done something.

God’s justice prevails.  In this fallen world, He has established the principle of “sowing and reaping.” 

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. (Gal 6:7)

Throughout Scripture this principle is often repeated.  Whatever a man plants will eventually bring a harvest- either a harvest of righteousness or a harvest of wickedness.  The law of sowing and reaping includes three important factors: 1. We reap the same kind. 2. We reap later. 3. We reap more.

1.      The same kind.  When we sow kindness, we will reap kindness.  If we help others, we will be helped.  If we hurt, we will eventually reap harm. 

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.”  (Lk 22:52)

2.      Later.  As in the natural world, reaping takes time.  Fruit doesn’t spring up overnight.  In the affairs of men, it takes time for good deeds to bear fruit, likewise evil.

The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm. The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death. (Prov 11:17-19)

 3.    More. There is a multiplication effect in reaping.  Fruit increases over time.  We always reap more than we expect, whether good or bad.  Jesus told the parable of the sower and the seed.  There we see the expansive nature of the harvest.

“Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Lk 8:8)

Righteousness brings greater benefits than we would ever imagine.  We may be surprised by the wonderful blessings that come as God is glorified in and through us.  On the other hand, unrighteousness brings a world of hurt. It is easy to become entrapped by the results of our misdeeds.   

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ro 6:23)

Apart from the forgiveness in Christ, we would all be headed to judgement and condemnation, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Ro 3:23b) But through the cross of Christ, there is redemption.

We would wish that everyone would know the life-changing grace of God.  Sadly, that is not the case. We still live in a fallen world.  We watch injustice and immorality flourish around us.  How comforting to know that God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. (Gal 6:7) 

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33)

All bible passages quoted here are taken from New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.