by David Brenneman
"So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way." Romans 14:12-13.
"but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." 1 Peter 4:5.
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.
"And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." Hebrews 4:13.
Dr. Charles Stanley has a Life Principle that says that you reap what you sow much more than you sow much later than you sow.
Was reading in my "Walking with God" devotional last night and read this "The same, of course, is true in the spiritual life. Through the books we read, the company we keep, the movies we watch and the music we listen to, we are sowing either to the Spirit or to the flesh. When we sow to the Spirit, we set our affections on the things above--seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness. By praying, studying God's Word, sharing our faith, and bearing one another's burdens, we sow to the Spirit. But if we sow our lives and money to the flesh, according to the Apostle Paul, we reap corruption.
Holiness is a harvest gained by careful sowing. Will you reap the reward of holy sowing? Or will you be surprised by what your harvest yields?" Dr. David Jeremiah, Walking with God.
When you stop in this moment of your day. Just think about the last 5 to 15 minutes. What did you sow or reap? Was your mind honoring to Christ or was it focused elsewhere on things less than appropriate for a child of God?
Would you even recognize what kinds of seeds you are planting in your life?
Many do not. Many try to white wash their sins. Many have been desensitized for so long that they don't recognize a sin from holiness.
Think about that. Would you really recognize the difference? Do you justify the so-called pleasures in your life? Are you running with the crowd to fit in by compromising or are you doing as Paul said and are standing firm in what you were taught?
Have you reaped the seeds of fear?
Letting fear turn you away from what God intended for you to be doing for Him?
Have you reaped the seeds of anger?
Are you reading books that aren't Biblical? Are you listening to music or people that are, shall we say, less than Godly examples?
Would you be described as one who sought after God's purpose in your life or described only in terms of worldly accomplishments and achievements?
Will there be people who stand up to point to your life and testify that it's because of you that they came to Christ for salvation?
Nobody is going to care about anything else when they die.
One second after you die your destination is determined by your choice to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ or your rejection of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.
For those saved in Christ, your treasure in Heaven isn't at all to do with any achievements beyond bringing others to see Jesus and their decision to follow Jesus too.
Degrees, diplomas, certifications, all the letters possible after your name means nothing in Heaven...or in Hell.
What are you cultivating in your life?
Are you looking for the return of Jesus? The Bible says we should.
Are you vetting out ungodly teachers from your life? The Bible says that you should be.
Are you adding to the soil of your heart Godly music and song? It's in there too.
Are you showing fruits of the Spirit?
The world justifies their actions.
"It's ok, that kind of thing doesn't bother me. I just like to listen to it. I'm just curious as to what they have to say, I don't really believe any of it." These actions are putting a hole in the soil of your heart to plant seeds that are not going to grow you in Christ.
Garbage in Garbage out.
Are you going to be one of those who's lives, that after being exposed to the fire of truth, have little to nothing to show of a life in Christ?
"For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:2-5.
"And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." Romans 1:28-32.
What seeds are you sowing?
What harvests are you reaping?
What's your future harvest looking like?
You will, not you might, you will reap what you sow, much more than you sow, and much later than you sow.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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