Well, my dear friend, thank you for a very good question! Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  My thought is that this applies to both now and in the future, but we must be careful as to how to interpret what is actually referred to in this portion of the Scriptures. Verse 8 says: “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” In a general sense, those in the world who refuse Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior can only sow the seeds of the flesh, which leads to death and corruption, but those who trust in Christ and walk in the Spirit experience abundant life while on the earth (John 10:10), and after departing the earth, true believers will receive the reality of everlasting life with Christ in the glory (John 14:1-3). To be more clear, it seems that Paul is addressing the saints in Galatians 6 as to how a Christian should do good to those of the household of faith, or in other words, how we are to act towards fellow Christians (though certainly verse 10 would include doing good to those outside of the church as well). But this does not imply that we are saved by our good works. As we know, the only pathway to salvation and everlasting life is through God’s amazing Grace by faith in Christ alone, and not due to any good works which we are able to do for ourselves or for anyone else (Ephesians 2:8-9)., Certainly, for those who reject Christ Jesus, they sow the seeds of corruption both in this life and after death (John 3:36; 1 John 5:12; Acts 17:30-31, Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:12-15). Galatian 6:2 instructs us to, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

But now, how does this all impact us in this life as opposed to the life to come? I will say that for Christians and non-Christians alike, there is for sure a temporal (earthly) consequence for sins. In Galatians 6:8 we read: “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” This, I believe, is a universal principle applying to all people. But even for Christians, there is a temporal price for sinning. Anyone who lives an ungodly and unhealthy lifestyle may reap the result of bringing shame upon the testimony of the church, or an early death, or severe disability (an example might be Proverbs 7:21-27). Eternally, however, since believers do not lose their salvation, the final phrase of Galatians 6:8 must not refer to the Christian standing (see Romans 8:1). I think that I can show through the Scriptures that the earthly failures of the Christian are revealed at what is called the “judgment seat of Christ”, and this is far different from the Great White Throne judgment for sins that we read about in Revelation 20. You will want to read about this judgment seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and in Romans 14:10. These passages speak of an examination by Christ Jesus Himself of the works of Christians while alive on this earth. That which is of Christ will be rewarded, and for that which was of the flesh, there will be “loss”, though we ourselves will be saved (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

So, to summarize, I will quote Hamilton Smith in his commentary on Galatians 6: “…these Galatian believers…having turned back to law had become “desirous of vain glory,” with the result that, in place of serving one another in love, they were biting and devouring one another…. (Vv. 7-10.) The Apostle now adds a solemn warning. He illustrates the government of God in our pathway through this world by the figure of sowing and reaping. Let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that, because we are Christians by the grace of God, we shall escape the results of our folly while in this life. “God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” On the one hand, if we act in the flesh, we shall suffer, however much the mercy of God may mitigate the suffering when the failure is judged. On the other hand, to act in the Spirit will carry its bright reward not only down here but in the life everlasting. Therefore, “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  (SF)  (637.5)