Laws of the Harvest

I used to think, almost exclusively, in terms of right and wrong, I based my spiritual well-being on my performance and in many areas, I did well but in others, I was a dismal failure … that’s the way I saw it at least. R&W were the measuring sticks by which I sized up others as well. The recipe for righteousness was one that I adhered to as much as I could. In the back of my mind I expected that God would reward me accordingly with good things that I wanted in this life. I am 67 years old and very much aware that things don’t work this way when it comes to the spiritual life.

Every good thing comes from a good God who blesses because it is His nature to do so. It is not a performance reward or incentive.

And God uses all the rest, the good, the bad and the ugly … somehow He does!

The Law of the Harvest is simply an observation that we are better off when we cooperate with natural laws rather than ignore or try to control them.  Even when we cooperate there are many variables that come into play.  This morning’s message borrows from John W. Lawarence’s book, “The Saeveln Laws of the Harvest”.  I am using my own obesrvations but found these points to be very helpful at a personal level.

Escapism

Christianity, as most of us have heard it preached and consequently experienced it, is presented as a way out.  It is a way out when it comes to hell.  It is a way out of the negative consequences of our bad choices.  A way to avoid unnecessary pain or the evil that exists in the world around us.

Is that all that there is to it?

We make a decision, a profession and then wait for Jesus to return or death to come.  What if it is more a way in than a way out?  It is clear that Jesus never saw “follower-ship” as a way to esacape anything.  It was a way to engage life, head on.

This message from last Sunday at CLC discusses the difference between escapism and engagement …