March 17

Fruit unto Life Eternal

Already the reaper draws his wages and gathers a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together. — John 4:36 BSB

Those who work for worldly rewards often find disappointment, but those who do God’s work are sure to receive good wages and a bountiful harvest. “The wages of sin is death,” and much of this world’s work leads to disappointment. But the reward of doing good is life, and the joy that comes from it is eternal. Christian work is often difficult, and the sowing is sometimes done with tears. But the reaping is always done with joy. Jesus Himself found the sowing hard and sorrowful, but He has never regretted in heaven what it cost Him on earth. The prophet Isaiah said, “He will see the fruit of His suffering and be satisfied.”

As Jesus sits on His throne, seeing the millions of redeemed souls coming home to heaven, saved through His suffering, He rejoices and is satisfied. The price He paid was worth it. And it will be the same for all His followers who have suffered in bringing lost ones to Christ. The wages we receive will far outweigh any sacrifice.

No work for Christ is ever in vain. Some seeds may seem to die in the soil, but no seed of God’s truth planted in faith and watered with tears will ever fail to produce fruit. The results may not come as we expect or when we hope, but no living word of God can fail.

God doesn’t pay His workers in gold or silver. He pays them with eternal life. Those who work in God’s fields may not grow rich in the eyes of the world, but they grow in spiritual richness, becoming more holy and blessed.