Galatians 6:9 – Waiting for the harvest

Now we may not be despondent in ideal doing, for in due season we shall be reaping, if we do not faint.

In the preceding verse, Paul exhorted to sow in the Spirit to reap the life of the age to come (= “eonian life”; Luke 18:30). This verse follows up on that by again using the metaphor of harvesting. What was called “sowing in the Spirit” in verse 8 is here called “not being despondent the ideal.” Logical, because there is nothing better, more beautiful or more ideal than to ‘sow in the Spirit’. In practice this means: to rely purely on the Word, which is after all Spirit-breathed. This Spirit produces life that belongs to (and is inherent to) the age to come.

But we must be aware that with this doing of the ideal we don’t have to count on ‘getting immediate results’. Doing what’s right is like a long-term investment. Just as a farmer who sows must have months of patience before being able to reap.

In “the present evil age” (eon; Gal.1:4) we will have to be prepared for rejection, persecution and ridicule. It is precisely then that it is important not to get tired or despondent, but to persevere. For in God’s time we shall reap. Guaranteed!

Delen: