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­­­­LSB  Galatians 6:7 - 10     God Will Not Be Mocked    

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

The world is getting bizarre.  And by that I mean we seem to be challenging every natural law.  

I was shocked but not surprised this week to learn that State Farm Insurance Company joined many other brokers, who had exited earlier, in refusing to write insurance policies, new ones, for homes in California.

Funny how that works.  California wants to be woke and control all the numbers so that everything is fair.  The work ethic is now somehow evil.  Every social and moral law is challenged and breached, but there's still number crunchers in some dark basement somewhere who say, there's no way to make a profit in this business model, and it's time to exit.

People challenge God's natural laws until finally someone somewhere says;  we're out.  You've challenged known laws until it simply cannot work.  We're out.  The numbers have to add up, or else, at some point the business can't survive.

Have you ever looked inside a crane?  There's a chart with numbers.  If the boom is at such and such a length and such and such an angle, you can lift this amount, and no more.  How did the guy who made the chart know that?

It's mathematics.  We have mathematic formulas that define the laws of leverage.  If the boom is at a low angle, it can't lift much without tipping the crane over.  Right?  Top heavy things tip over.  

Nobody argues with that natural law.  A lot of it is intuitive.  I think that's why rural people tend to be conservatives and city people tend to be liberals.  Rural people won't survive without some intuition about the natural laws that define what you can and can't do.  Suvival is dependent on living within the confines of natural law.  Common sense is built on intuition and experience.  

Some people don't know a lick of math but they just intuitively know, this is what will work, and this is what will break.  Then give a guy a slide rule and teach him how to work it, and he'll go to the moon.

Throughout the universe, natural laws of gravitational force and spinning bodies is so standardized and so mathematically predictable, that we got to the moon, without computers, mostly.  They were just coming available, and mostly they were time savers for the mathematicians.

Who set all those bodies spinning according to mathematics so stable and predictable that we can do the math and fly to planets out in space?  Who was the mathematician that designed it all.  

And not only that, we now know everything is slowing down at predictable rates so that mathematicians can tell you their predictions are more reliable than even before, because we can calculate the deceleration of the bodies in space.

The reason all of this works, is because there are constants that never change.  2+2 always equals 4.  And you get some guy who wants to have a seminar to argue that simple math is patriarchal nonsense that the  privileged people use to crush underprivileged people, and the room he'll speak in that holds 12,000 people under a common roof span, was engineered by an architect or he won't go in it, and the plane he gets to the conference on is engineered with mathematical formulas or he won't trust it to leap into the air in one city and safely land in another.

We live in a world of hypocrites that challenge all of the constants that God put in place while they depend on those same constants to move around in safely.

That's why I enjoy living in a rural area.  I don't know a single rancher who puts all of his bulls in a pen together and comes back 6 weeks later to see if any of them are pregnant.  Ranchers will be out of the ranching business pretty quick if they pick a fight with the creator who designed female cows and male cows.  

The designer of the worlds set constants in place that are always true.  Natural laws.  Like gravity.  And here, Paul uses the most simple truth about known constants to make a point.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  This is an ancient axiom.  An axiomatic truth is something so basic, no one argues with it.  If a farmer plants onions, he doesn't plan to harvest apricots in July.  He's going to be harvesting onions.  

God designed creation so that onions planted yields onions harvested.  The reason that is axiomatic is because God set those constants in motion during creation.  Like yields like.  God spoke that into being in the 11th verse in your Bibles.

11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.   Gen. 1:11

Farmers understand this.  Ranchers understand this.  

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

The most important thing to look at in this verse isn't the little axiom that no farmer would ever argue with.  What's going on here is that when people do argue with created order, with God's created constants, they have picked a fight with the person who spoke those constants into created order.

When the culture moves beyond the boundaries that are as evident to anyone as like begets like, they have in effect said, God who spoke this into being, is wrong.  God is not God.  Who does He think He is?  God?  

Who gave God the authority to give me an xy chromosome and declare me a man at birth?  Who does He think He is.  I'll show Him.  Don't tell me I have to be a man.  I'll be a woman if I decide I'm a woman.  God be mocked.  

That is exactly what this verse is saying when Paul says, if we abandon God's constants, God's designed order, we are shaking our little finger at God.  We mock God.  For a very short duration, I might add.  He wins every argument.  Ultimately.

We need to turn to Romans chapter 1 and take a refresher course on the devolution spiral that ends up arguing that 2+2=3,189.  It doesn't happen all at once.  There is a spiral that gets people to the place where they mock God.  This spiral into bigger orbits farther away from God is a principal that God defines for us and that we can identify.  Paul, in Romans 1.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

21 For even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the likeness of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions; for their females exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the males abandoned the natural function of the female and burned in their desire toward one another, males with males committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not proper,

Now, in my own defense, which really shouldn't be necessary, but it is, I didn't read all of that in order to rail against some perceived hobbyhorse against homosexuals.  That's actually a sidebar.  What I want you to see is in verse 28.

If you read through that progression again, on your own, you will notice a progressive movement into further depravity.  It's a progression.  3 times it says, God gave them over.  God gave them over.  God gave them over . . .

Until in vs. 28 we finally get to where I'm taking you to.  God ultimately gave them over to a broken mind.  A reprobate mind.  Their thinking is broken.  

You thought I was being ridiculous when I said 2+2=3,189.  But that's where a reprobate mind takes you.  It's a form of madness.  Your thinking capacity is broken.  It no longer works.

That's why some number cruncher in a dark basement who works for State Farm Insurance says, we can no longer do business in California and remain profitable.  We can't make these numbers add up.  We're happy they think 2+2=3,189, but if we go along with that reprobate thinking, we'll go out of business.  So we're very sorry, and we'll placate you by giving bogus reasons about climate change, but we have to exit, or we'll be bankrupt.  Goodbye.

When the reprobate minds, the God mockers, who say the order God set in place is not the order, at all, become the rulers of the culture, it's time to get out of there.

Paul doesn't say, it's a bad idea to mock God, to pick a fight with God.  That isn't what the verse says.  It says God IS NOT MOCKED!

You may think you're getting away with it for a while.  But payday always comes with God.  You sow, you harvest.  Count on it.  Hosea chapter 8 and verse 6 says something frightening that always comes true;

7  For they sow the wind, And they reap the whirlwind.

You pick a fight with God, He not only wins, but He magnifies the harvest.  Exponentially.  You blow back at God.  He returns a hurricane.  Maybe not the same day.  But you can count on it.  It will come.

We are at the tipping point in our culture where we've devolved to the degree that we're past all the other stuff in Paul's digression and we've landed at broken reprobate minds that can no longer even think.  It's la la land.

If you can't insure a property, then banks can no longer make loans to build it.  The whole thing collapses in on itself.

In California, Assembly bill 957 just passed in assembly and it states that parents who do not affirm a childs chosen believed gender identity can lose parental rights.  So little Billy goes to school and the teacher convinces him he's actually a girl, and mom and dad say, no, Billy, you are a boy, they can be fined and hindered and ultimately relieved of being parents by the state.

That's just one little example of reprobate minds agreeing together to mock God.  The rest of the states are only 5 minutes behind California.  

All I can tell you is what Paul clearly states.  God is not mocked.  

If you desire proof, you can read the old testament.  Over and over cultures get to a degree of vileness until God comes and wipes them out.  Except us.  We've surpassed Sodom and Gomorrah a while ago.  I think there may be some actual arguable logic that this culture will go right into the tribulation end times events.  

I think we're sneaking up on a level of mocking God that can only be remedied by the tribulation and the horrors of those bowls of wrath.  Jesus compared the final remedy with the Noahic remedy.  The only difference is God promised not to use water the second time.  I find it telling that the rainbow, God's original promise not to destroy the world with water, again, has now been leveraged to universally mock God.  

God's rainbow has become the universal mocking of God by reprobate minds.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

OK, back to a little more narrow context now.  

Paul has argued for the first chapter until now concerning man made religion carried out devoid of the spirit, in the flesh, without God, and true religion that imbibes the Holy Spirit, and then bears spiritual fruit because of God transforming us and strengthening us to do His will.

Walk in the flesh.  Or walk in the Spirit.  Deeds of the flesh.  Fruits of the Spirit.  We've worked through that.  Carefully dilineated.  The deeds of the flesh are thus and thus.  The fruits of the Spirit are thus and thus.  We have lists.  

But here, Paul says, we have the capacity to choose what we will harvest by what we plant in the ground.  We're back in Genesis 1:11.  Like yields like.  Reap what you sow.  And we have clear choices.  We can choose our harvest like any farmer anywhere.  You choose.

Actually, the world, without God, devoid of the Holy Spirit can only mock God.  They ultimately have no capacity to produce anything acceptable to God.  As christians, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we at least have the possibility, living inside our hearts, we have the singular possibility to honor God instead of mocking God like the lost world around us.  But it's a choice.

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

In simplest terms here, sowing is an investment in time.  Where is the bulk of your time going?  Are you a farmer who owns 1000 acres and plants a 6 row garden of corn because 6 rows is all you feel like you want?  You let the rest of the 1000 acres go fallow?

There is a sense in which verse 8 speaks of what we talked about last week.  A final accounting for God's elect where all of your living is tested by fire to see what is burnt up, as opposed to what is precious and remains.

12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident, for the day will indicate it because it is revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Cor. 3:12 - 15

Time sown in the flesh is burnt up.  Lost.  No value in eternity.  
Time walking in the Spirit yeilds eternal weight of value.
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

There's also a sense where the result of flesh versus Spirit reaps rewards and benefits right now, in this life, or it can cause destruction and sorrow.  Both now, and later.

You might say, I'm going to indulge my flesh because I want to, and in the end, I'll be in heaven because I'm a christian, and if everything else is burnt up, well, so be it, at least I'm in.  

Paul warned Timothy of spiritual shipwreck.  In this life.  Wooden ships, mangled in rocks and surf are frightening things to look at.  My mind goes to the Endurance, the ship trapped near the south pole, trapped in ice that eventually crushed it into splinters.  Shipwreck.

18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some, having rejected, suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.  1 Tim. 1:18 - 20

Two possibilities in those verses.  Fight the good fight.  Fight against the desires of the flesh.  Keep the faith.  Keep a good conscience.  In other words, walk in the Spirit.  Or;

Choose to lose that fight with your flesh.  Wave the white flag and let your flesh have it's way.  Ignore your conscience.  Walk in the desires of your fallen flesh instead of walking in the Spirit, and suffer shipwreck of your faith.

How much time do you spend walking in the Spirit?  Reading and meditating in God's word.  Praying always.  Singing and making melodies in your heart to the Lord.  Daily.  Weekly.  Monthly?  Ever?

Our TV sets are sewer pipes that bring fresh sewage from this world into our homes daily.  I'm guilty.  I click that thing on at dinner hour and let the sewage flow over me every day.

We ignore Paul's words to the church at Philippi.  8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things.  Ppn. 4:8

We want to relax.  We want to click our brains into neutral and coast.  We want to be entertained.  Are we coasting into an iceberg, half asleep?  Shooting into the righteousness of Oprah.  The righteousness of the world that mocks God.

9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

This is the straw that breaks my back.  Every time.  I'm a normal man.  I have the attention span of a tse tse fly.  And yet, God commands me to stay on course.  Forever.  Eph. 5:18.  Be being continuously topped up with the Holy Spirit.

That verse commands christians to go on a trip, a journey, a walk, if you will, with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the gas in your tank.  And that verse says; stop at every gas station and get your tank topped up.  

Don't be drunk with wine, (that's the world's remedy) be filled up with the Spirit.  It's like herding cats.  And I'm the cat.  It's like keeping a 3 year old interested in something, continually.  Good luck with that.

This flesh of mine never rests.  My best hours are when I'm sleeping.  Meanwhile, Paul is perfectly serious when he orders me, by the authority of his apostleship, and in the inspiration of Jesus Himself;

9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

We're 9 years and 5 months into the privilege of occupying this pulpit.  A privilege I never expected or deserved or sought.  9 1/2 years.  

And I confess to delusions of what God might do.  Maybe He will bring a miracle.  Maybe He will shake Tonopah loose from it's 120 year spiritual slumber and we'll get a front row seat to watch God do miracles in this place.

Maybe we'll get to join God in a real work here in the desert.  Maybe there will be revival in Tonopah Nevada.  A brush fire in the desert.  Maybe.

Not losing heart is a battle.  My flesh wants to hook the Airstream up to my fancy new pickup truck and wave bye bye to Tonopah for months at a time.  I'm super thankful to have excellent men available so we can take a Sunday away now and then.  Thank you Jeff.  Thank you Richard.  Thank you Kirk.

9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

That third repeat wasn't for you, it was for me.  Maybe after the rapture, someone will find our little web site and say, hey, this stuff is helpful.  It's looking like maybe that's the best I could hope for.  My delusions of revival while I'm actually here to enjoy it are quieted.

I'm not so much weary as I am lazy.  If God poured out a massive revival blessing in Tonopah, I think He knows I'm too lazy to do the follow up work.  

10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

So then, while we have opportunity . . . opportunity.  This is a difficult passage of scripture to teach.  How much opportunity have I squandered in my lifetime.

We are watching this series called SWAT.  People who go fearlessly into life endangering situations with bullets whizzing past in order to save lives.  

The reason Paul got beat up and thrown in jail so often was because he was fearless in his efforts to do good to all people.  The world is going over a cliff to their spiritual destruction.  And if I do good and warn them of their peril, they'll beat me up and throw me in jail, like Paul.

I'm not very brave.  If I was LAPD S. W. A. T.  I'd be the guy who comes with the camera after the bullets were finished.  No bravery required.  It doesn't take much backbone to stand here inside these 4 safe walls and teach you what this book says and means.

Paul purposely dilineates clearly the areas of doing good.  All people, first, and christians especially.  The REd cross.  Hospitals.  Orphanages.  Food kitchens.  Salvation Army.  Good will.  All of those were organizations worked by christians in order to relieve suffering, in Christ's name, in the larger world.

All of them are secular now.  We give a few dollars a year to World Vision.  Help some poor children who are less fortunate than us, but there's no clear saving gospel attached.

Any time the gospel is clear, the heat goes up.  So we try to obediently do good to all men, but the message is muddled so no one gets mad.  No one gets saved either.

While we have opportunity, in some way or another, the clear message of Jesus blood shed to rescue us from the peril and coming destruction we are born into, should be our end game.  Some how.  Some way.  That message of the cross is what we are to be engaged in, in some form, while we have opportunity.

What are you doing to advance the Kingdom of Jesus?  That's what every christian is to be about.  While we have opportunity.