“Paul teaches that God is not mocked and that we will reap what we sow. How do I understand that living under the grace of God and not the law. Will God reward me for doing good?”

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7).

Sowing and reaping was certainly an integral part of the Law. So much so that many of Israel’s feasts and holy days took place during the spring or fall harvest. Surely it was no coincidence that God picked a time so reflective of sowing and reaping for His people to refrain from any work and instead reflect on Him. Might there be a lesson being reinforced: “they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same” ( Job 4:8 cf. Psa. 7:14-16), but to those who sow righteousness, He says, “it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings” (Isa. 3:10 cf. Prov. 13:21).

Though we do not live under the Mosaic Law, it would be a mistake to think that foundational truths like sowing and reaping no longer apply. Even today, “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23); thankfully, “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor. 15:3), and when we believe the gospel, we reap His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

Still, the child of God will reap what he sows: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10). Christians are not granted complete immunity and become free from accountability. At the Bema seat we will look Christ in the face and give an answer for our Christian lives. Without so much as a word from us being necessary, Christ will reveal our lives and service for Him—serving both as inspiration and warning.

Our actions and motivations shall be put to the fire to see what remains (1 Cor. 3:13), and if anything does, “he shall receive a reward” (v. 14), but “if any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss (v. 15)”. The Judgment Seat will not simply be a time of joy while anxiously waiting in line to pick up our prizes. There will be a real sense of loss and accountability.

But we can live as the Apostle Paul did and “press toward the mark for the prize” (Phil. 3:14), knowing that we will reap what we sow because Christ Jesus will justly honor and recognize our service to Him.

“Let everyday begin with seeds you plant” –Robert Louis Stevenson.

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

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