Galatian 6:7-10
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Diet Coke, low carb ice-cream, and non-fat chocolate cake are all attempts to sow without reaping. It may taste like cardboard, but who cares? Our conscience is clear. Do you know why no one can make a delicious fat-free, sugar free, low-carb & low-calorie ice cream? Because you can’t sow without reaping.
Recently, I heard a writer of TV shows and movies asked the question, “Who’s the funniest person you ever met?” He said, “Chris Farley was the funniest person I ever met. Ironically, he was also one of the saddest.” Chris made a name for himself on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. In Dec 1997, he died of a cocaine and opiate overdose. No one close to Chris was surprised; he had spent considerable time in and out of rehab. But everyone agreed Chris was a super friend and a caring person. He spent his summers as a teenager counseling kids at a summer camp. He made a real connection with hundreds of young people at that point in his life.
Listen to this quote from Farley. It tells the story of how someone so full of love and life could come to a place so heart-rending.
“I used to think that you could get to a level of success where the laws of the universe didn’t apply. But they do. It’s still life on life’s terms, not on movie star terms. I still have to work at relationships, I still have to work on my weight, and some of my other demons. Once I thought that if I just had enough cash in the bank, if I had enough fame that I would be alright. I’m a human being like everyone else. I’m not exempt.”
Do you hear what he said? He came to believe he could engage in destructive behaviors without facing the destructive consequences. He believed he had elevated to a place in life where he could SOW and not REAP. But it’s not possible. Life in God’s world must be lived on God’s terms. There are no exemptions. Not for movie stars. And not for regular, everyday, ordinary people.