Be not deceived;
God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.

(Galatians 6:7 ASV)

As any farmer knows, if you want to harvest wheat, you need to sow wheat. You can’t sow one thing and expect something else to crop up. This God-given law has been in effect since the beginning of creation and it can’t be circumvented.

For he that soweth unto his own flesh
shall of the flesh reap corruption;
but he that soweth unto the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap eternal life

(Galatians 6:8 ASV)

Another sure God-given law is presented in this passage. I can sow to my flesh, or I can sow to the Holy Spirit. What I sow to determines what I reap. It matters not what I intend to reap or desire to reap or think I will reap. If I sow to the flesh (i.e. my desires) I will reap corruption. If I sow to the Spirit (i.e. His desires), I will reap eternal life (which is the kind of life, not just the length). I believe there is no way around this law; it is just as sure as the law the farmer relies on.

When it comes down to it, sowing to the flesh is no different than sowing thorns. So why do I still sow to my flesh at times? I don’t know. I may do many good things for the right reasons, but if I also cater to my fleshly desires, why should I expect a good harvest?

Thorns are whatever I do that hinders the life and work of the Holy Spirit in me, and they must be dealt with right away. Thorns start out seemly innocent enough, but as time goes on they grow harder and become more entrenched – more difficult and painful to pull up. I must pull them up anyway by denying myself in those areas that grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). And I must sow to the Spirit instead.