“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
We were not created to drift. If you have ever noticed, drifting takes us downstream or out to sea getting us nowhere fast and usually into much trouble. We don’t want to go there. Drifting never improves anything. It does us well to remember that we fall into sin but holiness and righteousness must be a pursuit – we never just drift into it and it doesn’t happen automatically. When we lack self-control and embrace the undisciplined life – building our houses on sand, like Humpty-Dumpty we will most likely see a great fall. We get out what we pour in – reaping what we sow. The Prophet Hosea writes in Hosea 10:12 (NIV): Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.” And remember the wise man stated in Proverbs 11:18B (NIV): “but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” James also adds in James 3:18 (NIV): “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
Our hearts can be as hard as a rock – unplowed – impervious to the pure living water of the Word of God. Our Lord uses our circumstances and His Word to penetrate these hard hearts of ours. These break up our unplowed ground – preparing us for a sure harvest. This never feels good. But His desire is for us to have our foundations built on the Rock of Christ and His Word penetrating our hearts and changing our actions through His power is how this high goal is achieved. Christlikeness is what God desires for every child of the King. When we sow trouble in lieu of righteousness, we reap trouble, Amen? When we sow the wind we reap the whirlwind Hosea tells us but when we sow righteousness we reap the fruit of unfailing love. We must not depend on our own strength rather on His mighty power indwelling every believer in Jesus. In sowing righteousness, it leads to a righteous life, and reaps rewards that are both beneficial and lasting.
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. Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV)