Below is an answer I replied to a fellow brother’s question regarding how to obtain favor over our past. I hope it can help minister to you as well. Thanks for reading 
Galatians 6:1 (KJB) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 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.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Here's the general idea of how I explain others remembering our past, specifically our conduct that they observed when our old man nature manifested when our lusts weren’t submitted to the Holy Spirit; but how we can redeem our future to earn a better judgment from the world through well doing.
Re-read verse 7 again carefully. The idea of sowing to our flesh can be understood as yielding to the lusts of sin in our members (remember, our physical body and parts- Romans 6-7). In those moments from our past, whenever we yielded to the lusts of our flesh versus the will of God, those around us visibly beheld our sinful nature manifested before their eyes. For example; fornication with another human being, drugs shared, cussing before others, stealing etc.
Reaping the consequences for those decisions is a universal rule that applies to all humanity from our Maker. This is a universal truth that applies to all, regardless of one’s position of salvation before God. There are consequences to all choices we make. For example, if I decide to go the store to purchase some items to prepare a meal, the outcome will be that meal. The flavor will depend upon the seasons that I input into the meal during the preparation stage. Those things will determine the outcome. Consider a couple who fornicated without protection and 9 months later a child is born; that’s what they reaped as a result of what they’ve sown. This principle applies to any example you can think of; habits, hobbies, health, etc.
During the process of restoration however, when a child of God comes to the point of realizing that they no longer want to live in a state of rebellion against the LAWS of God, and repent from certain choices they’ve made from which they no longer want to experience bad results from, as soon as they begin to make right choices (biblical choices, obedient choices); the results will be good!
Consider the following verses for more understanding of my explanation:
- Proverbs 16:20 (KJB) He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
- Proverbs 19:8 (KJB) He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
Notice how a believer could find good, when they seek and do what is good before God. Hence, reaping good as a consequence for living in obedience to God’s LAWS.
Compare and contrast the following verses:
- Proverbs 22:8 (KJB) He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
- Job 4:8 (KJB) Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
- Hosea 10:13 (KJB) Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
When humans sow (yield, submit, obey) to iniquity they will reap the emotional, physical, and mental side affects from those choices. Because we are a tri-part being (spirit, soul and body 1 Thessalonians 5:23), we will reap side effects to at least one of those 3 parts, and sometimes, all 3.
But in the realm of our social interactions with other human beings, the consequences we might inherit from those choices might affect other things, for example, friendships, trust, report, history, character traits etc.
Remember the explanation I gave you about a character from the Old Testament, the man Nabal.
Re-read 1 Samuel 25.
- 1 Samuel 25:3 (KJB) Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
- 1 Samuel 25:17 (KJB) Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
Nabal’s character was publicly known by those who knew him, to the point where his name bore the definition of the way people would explain the kind of man that he was; churlish and evil.
Compare and contrast the following verses: Nabal vs Cornelius
- Acts 10:1 (KJB) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. - Acts 10:22 (KJB) And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Corenelius’ ‘household servants’ (Acts 10:7) bore record that he was a kind man, that he was a good man, just, and of good report with the local Jews. Corenelius (a gentile) was so good to the Jews, that even the servants told Peter, that he could ask those local Jews to confirm their report.
One more for reference: a certain centurion
- Luke 7:1 (KJB) Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
Notice how the local Jews here bore witness before Jesus concerning this gentile, who they declared was worthy of His help, because he was a good man, who loved His people, and even funded the materials to build them a synagogue.
I share these verses with you to remind you that our choices have consequences, and some of those consequences could be good or evil. Those around us who’ve observed us before, during and after the choices we’ve made can determine the kind of person we’re were (in the past), and are (now in the present) based upon those choices. What might some of those ‘reaping’ side affects be before others? Some might remember you for being good to them at some point in their life, and it’s from that moment of interaction they beheld you perform a good deed, and showed good character. Others might have an evil report of you because of those moments of interactions you’ve had with from the bad choices performed before them, and evil characteristic traits shown them.
In conclusion, whenever we come to the point of realization that we no longer to want to live a certain way that is clearly contrary to God’s LAWS, whether influenced and motived by the Spirit of God in us by conviction (John 16), or through the admonition of those outside of us (2 Corinthians 7); God cannot alter our past (bad), but can help us build a better (good) future, through our obedient living today. At some point in our life, our “good” can in essence outweigh the “bad”, concerning our past; through good living in the present moment of reality. In other words, if man began doing drugs when he was 15, but repents from that choice at the age of 20, the next 5 years of good living can essentially prove his past 5 years of doing evil forgiven and repented of, earning a better judgement from others in that matter; because he’s proven himself faithful in that matter before his world, and those around him can see that he’s truly living a better life after those future 5 years of successful sober living.
Back to our base text:
- Galatians 6:9 (KJB) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The promise from God in this passage is reaping good, in the future tense, IF we don’t grow weary in the present moment, of well doing (living right, living obedient to the LAWS of God).
Consider the following verses for the idea of ‘well doing’.
- Romans 2:7 (KJB) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (KJB) But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
- 1 Peter 2:15 (KJB) For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
- 1 Peter 2:20 (KJB) For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- 1 Peter 4:19 (KJB) Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
Consider the following verses for the idea of ‘do good’
- Matthew 5:44 (KJB) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- Luke 6:35 (KJB) But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
- Galatians 6:10 (KJB) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
- 1 Timothy 6:18 (KJB) That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
- Hebrews 13:16 (KJB) But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
- James 4:17 (KJB) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- 1 Peter 3:11 (KJB) Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
Let’s finish with a prescription for a better future of good with all the benefits of reaping good, versus a future of evil days, from the negative side affects of living after the flesh.
- 1 Peter 3:10 (KJB) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Read vs.10 carefully and compare and contrast with Galatians 6:9-10. If we want a better life for our future, this is how we can obtain it. Verses 10-11 explains the will of God for us to restrain from yielding to those evil lusts within us; and His expectation for us to do good. Verses 12-13 offer us the promise of God’s approval over our lives when doing what is good before His face; and offers us this hopeful insight for our future; who can harm you if you’re following that which is good?
Boom! There it is! Because before, think of all those people who harmed us; i.e. spoke evil of us, gave an evil report of us, departed from our lives? They did so because they saw that we weren’t living good, and perhaps they were the victims of our evil living. Read all the way through vs.16-17; and there’s the promise of God’s protection, blessing and favor over us while we’re living (in the present moment) good, when those around us seek to accuse us or speak evil against us. The promise of God’s grace to affirm our lives is available to us while we’re living good and obedient lives before Him. For this reason we ought to be doing good now, living right now in the present moment; because we cannot change the past and the world’s view of us, but can change the future and their judgement of us then. I hope this helps with your question.
With love, brother Carlos.
