Sometimes we are happily able to avoid the consequences of our choices. 

When I first came to Texas, I met their patron saint of soft drinks – Dr. Pepper.  I was fascinated by the tiny bottles – each one largely stamped with 10, 2 and 4.  The advertising advocated a Dr. Pepper break for Texans at 10 am, 2 and 4 pm.   Some regarded it as the daily prescribed dosage. 

I provided support for the senior most member in the family of print shop owners.  He was a lovely Christian man.  I would chauffeur him around town while he made his sales calls.  The first time in the car each morning, he would abruptly launch into a safety prayer (He had seen me drive before).

Each afternoon, I was expected to clean his office.  I am not exaggerating when I say that I found 8-10 of those empty Dr. Pepper bottles there.  Every work day!

Didn’t he know that consuming sugary, carbonated soft drinks poses health risks like weight gain, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cavities. Some studies connect them with the increased risk of premature death.

But the man was drinking 60 ounces of Dr. Pepper each day.  And yet, he was pushing ninety at that time, still working every day, slim and trim, fantastic health – even had good teeth.  So, I’m no dummy.  I began my own 10, 2 and 4 regimen  (though it has not worked out as well for me).

Sometimes we are able to avoid the consequences of our choices but that may not be such a good thing.

Do you know that nearly half of all murder cases in the U.S. go unsolved.  Only 1 out of every 2 murderers ever face justice. 

Retailers catch shoplifters approximately 2% of the time.  There are some cities in the U.S. that no longer even prosecute the crime.  Analysts estimate that total retail theft losses are expected to hit around $115 billion by the end of 2025.

Here is something closer to home.  9 out of 10 drivers admit to speeding.  They do that (well, we do that) because more often than not, we are not caught. 

Sometimes we are happily able to avoid the consequences of our choices but eventually they catch up to us.   At least this is true in the spiritual realm.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows” – Galatians 6:7. NETbible ®

This passage was written in the context of the way we manage our money, but it serves as a broad principle that applies to all of life as well.  Note that Paul warns us, “do not be deceived” which is because we often are.  We live like there is no tomorrow, until tomorrow comes. 

What follows is somewhat of a humorous way to think about these things – the lyrics to an original song called “Sow a Little.”

Sow a little, reap a little; Sit around and faddle fiddle; Sow a lot, reap a lot; That’s the way to go

The farmer went to sow his field.    He hoped to get a bountiful yield, But the seeds were few, he didn’t put much in; So he harvested just one wheat thin

The man was driven, he had things to do; No time for family, no time for you; He then retired and he sat alone; Just him and Siri on his cell phone

She had no time to serve the Lord; The worship service left her bored; And then one day she was deep in trouble; With nothing to show but wood, hay and stubble

But one smart brother understood the plan; He tithed his money, loved his fellow man;  He served the Lord all over the place; And he died one day with a grin on his face

Sow a little, reap a little; Sit around and faddle fiddle; Sow a lot, reap a lot; That’s the way to go

A PRAYER:  Lord, please use the future to impact our present.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you always.