Message summary: Today we will examine a great spiritual truth in seedtime and harvest, in sowing and reaping.

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“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22). “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” (Psalm 126:5). “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” (Galatians 6:7-9).

Before 5:00am this morning we heard the machinery in the field behind our house cutting the rye. By 9:00am it was working in the field across from our house. It's a four step process: cutting, spreading out to dry, putting in a windrow and then chopping and loading onto trucks for transport back to the dairy farm. So we will be observing field activity over the next several days, something we thoroughly enjoy about country living.

A drive through the country at this time reveals a buzz of activity on farm after farm. We see a lot of different farming methods in our area from modern hi-tech such as the huge cutting machine as well as the Amish old order methods using horse (or mule) teams which we often share with our readers. It sure makes for some interesting sights as we travel about.

The word “seedtime” is used only once in the entire Bible (in most commonly used versions). "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease" (Genesis 8:22). This is known as the Noahaic covenant, the promise that God gave to Noah following the great flood. The flood occurred many thousands of years ago but this covenant promise has and will continue unabated "as long as the earth endures". Seedtime is otherwise known as sowing or planting as a physical phenomenon and we see this promise being faithfully fulfilled all around us.

It's interesting that in this covenant our normal designations for the seasons of Spring and Fall (Autumn) are not used but rather the agricultural seasons, seedtime and harvest. (However rye harvest is in the springtime!)

There is a great spiritual truth as well in seedtime and harvest, in sowing and reaping. The second daily verse states, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy" (Psalm 126:5). I don’t believe farmers typically "sow in tears" but as they sow (seedtime) they are certainly aware of the many dangers that face their growing crop till harvest (drought, flooding, disease, insects, etc.).

It’s sure that way for us as we sow in a spiritual sense. Many reading this message have sown their seeds of faith in the midst of sorrowful experiences.

Let us end our message today with a great, great Biblical promise. Read it slowly and accept it by faith. Brooksyne and I memorized this passage early in our marriage and have so often drawn strength and much needed perspective from it: "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" (Galatians 6:7-9).

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber