We hear a great deal today about success, well-being, political correctness, honesty, integrity, popularity, and health. All of these are relative to individuals, some having more than others. Not many hear about the opposites of these because those things are negative and often unwanted. When the negative comes what should we do?

Who wants to fail? Who seeks the bad?

Being politically incorrect has its downside. There isn't anything attractive about unpopularity or sickness.

Many people desire to act in wrong, evil and corrupt ways while wanting to reap good, right and desirable things. The nature of things, however, is the impossibility of such an arrangement. Indeed this kind of thinking isn't right or real. To put it bluntly, "You cannot sow weeds and reap corn."

This practical wisdom was expressed long ago by a man named Paul who wrote to the people at Galatia who were thinking in a similar mistaken way as many folks today are thinking and acting. He wrote about how things were created in this manner, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 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 6:7-10).

There are simple, clear associations that result logically and realistically from what we are, do and say. The fact is there are two approaches in life—the diabolical and the divine. In some sense life is a continuum, existing with more or less of the diabolical and the divine.

This mixture is sometimes referred to as "half-truth," where there is a mixture of good and evil, right and wrong, ethical and unethical. Throughout history this has been the debate and discussion of great thinkers.

This has been the effort of thinkers such as Sophocles and Aristophanes, Thucydides and Tacitus, Plato and Aristotle, Socrates and Cicero, Hesiod and Vergil, Dante and Shakespeare, Job and Homer, Dryden and Pope. What is true? What is right? What is real?

In such questions the focus is on the positive, the value, the virtuous, the real. There is great power and purpose in such emphases, whereas there is death, destruction and despair in the opposites—the decadent, the diabolical.

Such things cannot stand the test of time, dignity and decency. There is an appearance that poses permanency, but when the test comes it cannot endure.

Its value is not sufficient, or its virtue real.

It could be said in this way, "Truth endures. It lives because it is right, good and eternal." This is exactly what Paul meant when he said to those confused folks at Corinth, "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth" (2 Corinthians 13:8). Even lies attest to the truth, witnessing to its reality and virtue.

In addressing this great fact of "sowing and reaping," Dietrich Bonhoeffer penned his great classic that is still read and appreciated today—The Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer's life is a testimony to the principle of "sowing and reaping."

His witness to truth and right still speaks today in the books and essays that he authored under the duress of hate and murder.

In that awful environment of Nazi Germany, Bonhoeffer's words in his classic study ring clear and true—"It is evil works rather than good works which hinder and destroy faith. Grace and active obedience are complementary. There is no faith without good works, and no good works apart from faith." The exercise of faith and the sowing of good works results in the triumph of right and the testimony of truth.

Even the lies marketed today and the half-truths that are smoothly stated cannot diminish what is true and right.

How we need more who determine that they are going to sow the good and witness to the truth. We should emphasize the power of such simple "sowing and reaping" in individual and in collective lives.

I hope that you will determine to have a positive contribution and constructive relationship with your world. If you have comments or observations on what we have to be faithful and wise, I would like to hear from you and will appreciate you sharing your thoughts and ideas with me on "sowing and reaping."

You may contact me by e-mail at jhopkins@etbu.edu or drjerryhopkins@yahoo.com.

I can also be reached by "snail mail" at Dr. Jerry Hopkins, East Texas Baptist University, 1209 North Grove Street, Marshall, TX 75670, or by phone at 903-923-2087.