GAL. vi. 7, 8. “Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap, for he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall
of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
I. SOWING and reaping is an example of a principle seen
everywhere in the government of God. An act performed
at one time leads to products at a future time. See this
exemplified in nature and also in human character.
II. Consider the application of the principle to corrupt
human nature: “He that soweth to the flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption.” Man, when he comes into the
world, has seeds in his very nature, tendencies to act for
good and for evil. The tendency to evil grows unless it is
restrained. The roots strike themselves deeper into the
soil, and the seeds of evil develop in the course of years.
See this exemplified in intemperance, in pride, in all
temptations and lusts.
III. The application to regenerated nature: “He that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
We have seen that in our nature evil propagates itself.
But it is equally true that good does so, good purposes,
good dispositions, good acts. It increases at compound
interest. Every temptation promptly resisted strengthens
the will. Every step we take on the ladder upwards helps
up to a higher.
The new nature is in the form of seeds. Grace grows
upon grace. In the same way the Church as a whole grows
and increases.
James McCosh, D.D.