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. Galatians 6:7-8
The Wild Oat plant, Avena fatua, also known as Oatgrass, produces seeds with projecting “awns.” When moistened by humidity these projections turn the seed and drill it into the ground to ensure germination. In addition, Wild Oat seeds can go dormant, waiting for optimum growing conditions before sprouting. One plant can produce 60 to 2,000 new oats.
We often hear the excuses about “just sowing a few wild oats,” but we forget–God forgives us our sins but he does not remove the consequences of those sins. Like a noxious weed seeding itself in our garden, our wild oats have a way of hanging about and causing trouble long after the deed is done.
When we sow one wild oat seed — the consequences are 60 to 2,000 weeds infesting our gardens. Our wild oats, our sins, will bury themselves in our lives and in other people’s gardens too. The consequences of our sins are reaped by ourselves and by those around us.
We are forgiven our sins, but we still endure the earthly consequences. We sow and we reap wild oats.
The good news is that when we sow the seeds of the Spirit, we reap the rewards of the Spirit. I know which I’d rather have in my garden. What are you planting today?
Lochlanina Tobey uses her degree in English composition from Messiah College as an excuse for writing and teaching poetry. Her most recent prize winning poem, The Finality of Rain appears on UtmostChristianWriters.com. In 2008 she trained with CLASServices, Inc. as a professional Christian speaker and feels blessed to minister as a leader and speaker at women’s retreats. Read Lochlania’s devotions.
