Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-05
PAUL'S WORDS TRUE;
WHATSOEVER IS SOWN
SO SHALL MAN REAP
To Sinners Passage Thunders Forth
Fear of Sinai, to Faithful 1t Whls-
pers Promise of Future
Happiness

The belief that mortals will not reap
the harvest of their sowing does much
to encourage the indulgence of evil and
retards somewhat the endeavor to do
good especially when the effort requires
no small sacrifice from human point
of view.
The eternal and Interchangeable law of
God is no respecter of persons. 1t deals
out mercy and justice to saint and sin
ner alike. This law is clearly set forth
by the apostle in his letter to the
churches of Galatia when he wrote:
BE not deceived God is not mocked;
for whatsoever d man soWeth, that
shall he also reap" These words are
not true because Paul wrote them, but
he wrote them because they are true.
To the sinner they thunder forth the
law of Sinai; to the faithful disciple of
Christ they whisper, "Well done, thou
good and faithful servant;
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord"
Paul was spiritually minded enough
to discern the law of God and he was
bold enough to declare it. He was q
scribe under orders and he could not
do otherwise than declare the truth.
This law of God had always been in
force, judging the sinner and reward
ing the saint, even though the sinner
was deceiVing himself with the thought
he could sin and not suffer- and the
saint was fearful that his labor might
be in vain, accomplishing nothing for
himself or others.
Sinner Blinded by Sin
Paul simply declared the law as it
had always existed; but because OF
his utterance he received the condem-
nation of some and the blessing OF
/ hot ln
of truth are not always received as
they should be, the apostle writes else
where in this epistle, Am 1 therefore
become your enemy, because l tell you
the truth?" Why should mortal man
hate the one who gives utterance tQ
the truth? Does he not know that q
| human declaration can neither make
nor unmake the truth? Is not then the
| one who gives utterance to the truth
a friend rather than an enemy? Ii
| is better for the offender to know
| wherein he has done wrong and also
for the one who does well TO under
stand the law he obeys. When the
| ignorant is enlightened he has the op
portunity to reform, and when the one
| who does by nature the things con-
tanned in the law is instructed in the
right way his progress is assured ano
! he works more understandingly.
! whatsoever a man soWeth, thal
shall he also reap" The unwise believe
or trv to believe, that the law of God Is
not clearly set forth in these words OF
| the 0nostle. But Paul leaves no room
! for concluding that the law may be-
come inoperative at some time or thai
II NAV not apply in all cases. HIS
! etafenient is clear comprehensive anc
/ emphatic 1t applies to all men Ioi
/ all time. ,5 Le
does not comprehend the teaching o.
| tbe Scriptures concerning the forgive
,nsa % sin He thinks it means the
renission of the penalty for wrong
doing. and so he continues in sin, in
| tarding TO repent before it is too late
He believes it is possible for MN tC
| sow the seeds of sinful indulgence ano
not gather the harvest.
ON the other hand. the good man Is
sometimes deceived. If he really ac-
oonted the words of Paul as setting
| fortb the law of God he could not
donbt But because he does not see tho
result of his labors he is tempted tc
| think It is possible to do right ana mol
reap as he has soWn.
No Justice turks in the eternal man
date which rewards every man accora'
ing to his works. The design OF loVt
is to destroy In human consclouslie5S ,sl's'i
every form of evil and make 1t posi-
bile for the Individual to enjoy pertec'
and eternal harmony. Who, If ht
could, would annul the law of Goo
whereby man reaps as he sowsY Whllt
the law declares that mortals cannot
sin and not suffer it also declares they
cannot do well and fail to receive a re-
ward. Suppose this law We're made o
non effect Then sin would be unpun'
| ished and good unrewarded. But thf
law of God is not annulled; it stands
sure. as eternal and unchanging al
! God himself 1t Is the Christians hope
It destroys the false belief that finds
pleasure and satisfaction in wronE
| doing. and thus it destroys sin,
Willingness to reap as one has soWf
is evidence that the problem of life Il
being wrought out according to the law
of God. When the fires of purifcatiot
consume the dross of mortal conscious
ness faith in the justice and mercy o.
| divine love lifts one higher. The Chris
tian rejoices in the destruction of er
ror. and all who come to know the law
of God and yield willing obedience
thereto learn to do likewise. Then ther'
Is no terror in the declaration, what
soever a man soweth, that shall he alsC
reap. ."-Christian Science Monitor.