The writer of the Book of Hebrews enjoins mutual encouragement among brethren. This is intended to be a bulwark against what he calls “the deceitfulness of sin” Hebrews 3:13 NKJV. The entire system of sin operates on deceit. There are people who are totally lost in sin, and even revel in it. They speak proudly against God and bluff at every law in the Holy Book. A spiritual man will wonder at such audacity of the wicked. The answer to this puzzle is contained in the verse of scripture we are examining today. Sinners go on in their pernicious way because they are persuaded, wrongly though, that there will be no consequences for their actions. That is deception, if not total delusion. Everything operates on the law of sowing and reaping. Sowing to the flesh will bring a harvest of corruption. The reward of evil work may not show up early enough; which may reinforce the wrong belief of the doer.

Everything operates on the law of sowing and reaping… The reward of evil work may not show up early enough; which may reinforce the wrong belief of the doer.

To get out of this deceit, it is important to see every act as seed. Once a farmer cast his seed into the soil, a consequence follows; the seed will produce after its kind. If it is a good seed, a good harvest follows; and if it is a bad seed, a bad harvest follows. The flip side is a righteous man thinking nothing is coming forth from his good deeds. This is also a form of deceit, and can breed discouragement. Many faithful have faced this problem. You can hear this frustration in Asaph’s voice when he said, “Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.” (Psalm 73:13). Those in this temptation should remember that God is faithful, and a perfect record keeper. At the fullness of time, the reward will come.