Haley Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ~ Galatians 6:7(NKJV)

Those working hard in the fields understand it. Those in the county jail have figured it out, too. In the natural world, Newton's action and reaction law explains things like how a rock causes ripples in a pond. In the spiritual world, the Bible explains how our sinful actions reap consequences, too, and we can't expect to get away with anything for very long.

When I was four years old I remember testing this theory: not in a field, not in a pond, but on the arm of my dad's favorite chair. He had one of those big Naugahyde recliners that were so popular in the '60s. I remember it had a kind of marble gray plastic looking upholstery that stuck to your legs in the summer heat.

I discovered something wonderful about this recliner. I found it made a popping sound when you poked it with a ballpoint pen - an intriguing "fum-pump." In short order I produced several holes in the arm of that recliner — sort of a connect-the-dots idea.

When my dad came home, the reaping process began. Somehow, Dad seemed to appreciate neither my ingenuity nor my artistry. I had ruined the arm of his favorite chair and he let me know it in no uncertain terms.

Well, Dad forgave me and life went on. But even in its damaged condition, my dad still found his recliner the most comfortable chair in the house. (He did not wear shorts.) So for another ten years or so, I had to live with the reality of what I had done. The arm of that chair never healed. Then one day, he got rid of it, just like that! A new recliner was purchased and the long reaping process was over — or so I thought.

Years later, after a stint in the military, marriage, and four children of my own, I was called into the bathroom by my wife, who was glaring at the top of our plastic padded clothes hamper. My son, four years of age, had done to the top of that hamper what I had done to the arm of my dad's recliner.

I'm embarrassed to admit my feelings of nostalgia as the memory of that "fum-pump" sound came back to me. I said to my wife, "Oh, Honey, do you know how fun that is?"

How could I correct my son without feeling like a hypocrite? Once again I recognized that the ripples of a seemingly harmless act of reckless abandon had once again found their way to my shore.

Well the ripples may have finally stopped (or slowed) on that one. This story is now but lighthearted sermon fodder. I have thrown much larger stones in the water since then. And as we all do, I still reap the consequences of the occasional misspoken word, bad attitude, or wrong action.

But there is good news in the sowing and reaping department. It's found in the following verses.

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

And let us not grow weary while doing good: for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. ~Galatians 6:8-10 (NKJV)

The ripple effect applies also to the good things we do, too — those things we do out of compassion for others and out of our love for the Lord. We don't have to be ashamed when those ripples come to our shore. When we're doing what pleases God, we can without hesitation throw big stones in the water and hope for tidal waves because we've got a promise from the Lord that we will reap if we wait on Him.

Sowing and reaping is a spiritual law under which we all live.

We have experienced the downside of this law many times. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more of us could daily experience the upside?

Eric Haley is pastor at Calvary Chapel.