Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, until he come and rain righteousness upon you.

What should we think of a farmer who allowed his finest fields to lie fallow year after year?

Yet men neglect their souls; and besides being unprofitable, these inward fields become full of weeds, and exceedingly foul.

You see to everything else, will you not see to your souls?

It is God who calls you to break up the fallow ground of your uncultivated heart, and he waits to aid you therein.

Regard attentively the argument which he uses: “for it is time to seek the Lord.” Thus God reasons with you. To this he adds instructions which deserve our best attention.

I. WHEN IS IT TIME? “It is time.”

1. In the very first hour of responsibility it is none too soon.

2. At the present it is late, but not too late. “It is time.”

3. When chastening has come, seek the Lord instantly; for now it is high time, “lest a worse thing come unto you”: John 5:14.

4. Before trial comes, let mercy and gentleness lead to gratitude. Why should we need to be flogged to our God? Isaiah 1:5.

5. Have you not sinned long enough? May not the time past suffice for us to have served the flesh? 1 Peter 4:3.

6. When you assume great responsibilities, and enter on a new stage of life:—married, made a master, a father, etc.: 1 Chronicles 22:19.

7. When God’s Spirit is specially at work, and therefore others are saved. Acts 3:19.

   • When you yourself feel holy stirrings in your conscience, and hope in your heart. Psalm 27:8. 2 Samuel 5:24.
   • When the gospel is aimed at you by an earnest minister or friend.

II. WHAT IS THE PECULIAR WORK?—“to seek the Lord.”

1. To draw near unto God; seeking him in worship, prayer, etc Psalm 105:4.

2. To ask pardon at his hands through the atonement of Jesus. Isaiah 55:6.

3. To obtain the blessings connected with the new birth. John 1:12, 13.

4. To live for his glory: seeking his honor in all things. Matthew 6:33.

III. HOW LONG SHALL THIS BE DONE? “Until he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

1. Until the blessing of righteousness be obtained: “until he come.”

2. Until it be plenteously received: “rain righteousness.”

3. Until your soul is saturated: “rain righteousness upon you.”

   • Suppose a pause between the seeking and the blessing, do not look in some other direction, but seek the Lord still.
   • What else can you do? John 6:68.
   • Is not God a Sovereign? May he not give when he pleases?
   • Even now some rain of grace falls on you. Be thankful for it.
   • Is it not worth waiting for this grace of life?
   • It is sure to come. He will come, and will not tarry. Hebrews 10:37.

IV. WHAT WILL COME OF IT?

1. He will come. This is implied in the expression “until he come.” God’s coming in grace is all you need.

2. He will come in righteousness. You need purity and holiness, and he will bring these with him.

3. He will come in abundance of grace meeting your obedient sowing. Mark the precept, “Sow in righteousness.” Then note the promise, “and rain righteousness upon you.”

4. In consequence of the Lord’s coming to you in righteousness, you shall “reap in mercy.” With joy you shall gather the fruits of his love; not because of your own righteousness, but because of his righteousness, which he rains upon you; not as merit, but as mercy.

   • Come then, and seek the Lord at this very hour!
   • If you would find him, he is in Christ. Believe, and you have found him, and righteousness in him. Romans 3:22.

Quickeners

While Christ calls, it is not too late to come. Do you object,—“Is there not a set day, which, if sinners neglect, the door is shut?” I answer,—There is truth in this; but yet there is no day but a sinner ought to come in it. Though you may think the day of Christ’s acceptance to be over, yet is not the day of your submission over. Your time to be subject to the divine precept is not over while you live. You are still under the command, and bound to yield obedience to God whatever he bid you do.… So long as God calls you, the day is not over. This should encourage you to come at once, driven by duty, and drawn by grace.—Ralph Robinson.

Sir Thomas More, while he was a prisoner in the Tower, would not so much as suffer himself to be trimmed, saying that there was a controversy between the king and him for his head, and until that was at a happy end, he would be at no cost about it. Let us but scum off the froth of his wit, and we may make a solemn use of it; for certainly all the cost we bestow upon ourselves, to make our lives pleasurable and joyous to us, is but mere folly, until it be decided what will become of the suit between God and us, what will be the issue of the controversy that God has against us, and that not for our heads, but for our souls, whether for Heaven or Hell. Were it not, then, the wisest course to begin with making our peace; and then we may the sooner lead a happy life? It is said, “He who gets out of debt grows rich.” Most sure it is that the pardoned soul cannot be poor; for as soon as peace is concluded, a free trade is opened between God and the soul. If once pardoned, we may then sail to any port that lies in God’s dominions, and be welcome. All the promises stand open with their treasures, and say, “Here, poor soul, take in full lading of all precious things, even as much as your faith can bear and carry away!”—John Spencer.

A little maiden stood trembling, weeping, timidly knocking at the door of a minister’s library. “Come in,” said a cheerful voice. The door handle slowly turned, and there she stood, sobbing with emotion. “What is the matter, my dear child?” said the sympathizing pastor. “Oh, sir,” was the reply, “I have lived seven years without Jesus!” She had just been celebrating her seventh birthday.—The British Messenger.

Moments seize; Heaven’s on their wing: a moment we may wish,

When worlds want wealth to buy.

—Young.

Thomas Fuller says, “God invites many with his golden scepter whom he never bruises with his rod of iron.” If the invitations of his grace were more freely accepted, we should often escape the chastisements of his hand. Oh, that men did but know that a time of health, and happiness, and prosperity is as fit a season as can be for seeking the Lord! Indeed, any hour is a good time in which to seek the Lord, so long as it is present with us. He who would be wise will find no better day in the calendar for casting away folly than that which is now with him. But let no man trifle with time, for in an instant the die may be cast, and then it is written concerning the ungodly, “I also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear comes”: Proverbs 1:26.