/WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN
November 2006
Dan Duke

We have heard it said "What goes up must come down." And assuming the law of gravity is working properly that saying is true. What goes up must come down.

That principle when properly understood and applied has within itself the power to change your life in more ways than one.

For example, consider giving to the gospel of Jesus Christ. If heaven is your source and you, like me, expect heaven to rain down upon you then something must of necessity go up. If nothing goes up how can we expect something to come down?

The Bible makes it clear that "Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap." In other words what goes up must come down.

Furthermore, Solomon said, "Cast your bread on the water and you shall find it after many days." Whether or not you realize it you are living according to the seedtime and harvest principle found in Genesis 8:22. Everything we do becomes a seed and will, without doubt, return to us pressed down, shaken together, and running over. (Luke 6:38) Not only that, what we sow will be returned to us in the same measure with which we measure it to others. Generosity out means generosity in.

We are all like farmers in that we are in need of a harvest. That's how we live. We sow time, talents, and years of our lives into an endeavor that we hope will produce a harvest sufficient to meet our needs. As needs increase the harvest must increase and therefore the seed must increase.

I am surprised that so few Christians understand this law by which we all live. Once a person understands this principle and puts it into practice, they move from a natural realm to a supernatural realm of provision and reality. This is so simple even a child can understand it; every seed has an assignment to produce what it is. Apple seeds always produce apples never oranges or carrots. If you want apples plant apple seeds.

Two important things are predetermined when a seed is planted; first the seed determines the harvest, and second, where the seed is planted determines where the harvest will be. If the Kingdom of God is to be your source of provision then seeds must be planted there. Jesus taught people the need to "lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven." (Matthew 6:20) He also warned of the possibility of being rich here on earth and poor in heaven. (Luke 12:21)

My point is this; if I want the Kingdom of God to be my source (and I do) I must put something "up" there. If I put nothing up I cannot expect anything to come down. When I give, which I purpose to do every day, I am sowing "up." As I sow up, I have every expectation for that same thing in the form of a harvest to come down upon me. It works.

Consider this; what is seed to me is a harvest to someone else. Let me give you a recent example. A missionary couple visited my home last week. They had recently moved to a new city and were in the process of furnishing their new apartment. I asked them "What do you need?" Reluctantly they told me. (I don't know why people are reluctant to express their needs when asked. I'm sure not like that) Well, I opened my spirit to the voice of God concerning what, if anything, I was permitted to do. (You see for me giving is an opportunity to "lay something up" in advance of a future harvest.) Before they left my home the Lord spoke to me to give them a generous offering. To me the offering was a seed but to them it was a harvest.

I want you to learn something here. That couple gave me the opportunity to lay up something in heaven while I gave them the opportunity to receive a harvest. For me it was seed, to them it was a harvest. They left rejoicing and I was rejoicing that I now have even more riches in heaven from which to gather a harvest anytime I want it to meet my needs and desires here on earth.

Now consider this. We must learn to lay up treasure in heaven but heaven is not where we need it. We need it here on the earth! However, if it's not in heaven we cannot access it. If you make no deposit in your bank account there is nothing for you to withdraw; nothing in, nothing out.

Let me describe two problems. One problem is that fewer and fewer people are giving to the Kingdom of God and though they may be rich on earth they are poor in heaven. The result is they are totally dependent on the world's system of finance for their future and well being. A future such as that is dangerous at best since we know the fashion of this world is passing away. (James 1:10-11) This world's system is doomed!

The second problem is that many who are indeed rich in heaven due to their generous giving do not know they are rich and do not know how to withdraw their harvest and use it here on the earth. That is something you need to know how to do.

This journal entry is not supposed to be an appeal letter. That is not my intention. However, there is nothing better for you to do than sow into a fruitful ministry that provides good soil for your seed. Your gift given in faith as a seed becomes a harvest to the one who receives it. That in turn becomes seed again to sow into someone who needs a harvest.

So the cycle of seed time and harvest continues and multiplies all along the way. Your seed becomes a harvest to become a seed again to produce a harvest to produce more seed. The cycle never stops unless one stops it through failing to "lay up treasure in heaven."

As you give in partnership with a fruitful ministry, your seed becomes their harvest. From that harvest many more seeds are sown to produce an even greater harvest of salvation for the lost, healing and deliverance for the sick and oppressed, and so forth. The more fruitful the ministry is the greater the yield of harvest you who give receive.

It has been my goal for many years to give something every day to someone as a reflection of the Kingdom of God. For many years I have laid up treasure in heaven and I'm learning how to get it out of heaven and put it to use here on earth. But my final point is this; make your giving a purposeful event. Never fall into the faithless routine of simply writing a check to dropping a few bucks in the collection plate at church. Sow to the heavens, lay up treasure, do it deliberately and learn how to access it as you want or need it here on earth.

Perhaps I'll write more on this in my next journal entry, so check again online soon. In the meantime begin today by sending something up. What goes up must come down.

By the way, our internet radio is accessible 24 hours a day. We play mostly English worship music and feature Bible study three times each day. Check it out.

My embrace,

Dan Duke
Belo Horizonte, Brazil

www.somdachuva.com.br