Friday, May 22, 2020

Faith and Consequences

Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 2 Samuel 12:10 

What is required for God to forgive sin? Repentance. But even repentance does not ensure the removal of the consequences of sin. The consequences often remain as a reminder of the terrible, destructive nature of sin. David was forgiven for his grievous sins of lust, adultery, robbery, and murder. God forgave him and removed his sin from him completely (Ps. 103:12). God did not, however, remove the pain that David would endure as a result of his transgressions. The child born of David's adultery died (2 Sam. 12:14). David's son Amnon raped David's daughter Tamar (2 Sam. 13:14). David's son Absalom murdered Amnon (2 Sam. 13:28–29). Absalom brought the kingdom into rebellion (2 Sam. 15). For the rest of David's reign, violence filled his home and his kingdom. Although David knew he was forgiven, he bore the painful consequences of his sin for the rest of his life. It is presumptuous to assume that God removes every consequence the moment you repent of your sin. Do not think that the instant you show remorse God will restore everything as it was. He may not. Some sins, such as adultery, come from a flawed character. God forgives sin immediately upon repentance, but it takes longer to build character. It is character, not forgiveness, that determines what God brings next to your life. Because we know the devastating consequences of our disobedience, let us diligently avoid every sin and “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1b). - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

I am by no means acquitted of the consequences of my sin. No more than King David.  No more than Peter after denying Christ.  Peter denied Christ within eyesight of Him. King David allowed stray thoughts to build into what became of adultary and murder.  

How true it is of what Blackaby is saying about consequences.  But equally important is knowing that after repentance comes growth. 

TobyMac has a song called "Move".

Sin knocks us to our knees so easily. It never takes much to knock the wind right out of our good day.  It's just how life is.  Sailing ships can be going along without a problem...until the wind changes direction. 

I am not even, nor are you, fully aware of the volume of sins we commit daily.  

We only, maybe, see the 'big ones' that stick out.  Many can be chains around our neck that we haven't fully let go of yet. 

David's sin was indeed forgotten and forgiven.  The consequences were not. 
Peter was indeed forgiven but his failure to acknowledge Christ those three times haunted him the rest of his days. It also drove him to do more for Christ. 

Paul, when he was Saul, was shown how much he would suffer for the Kingdom. 

We can't always escape but we will be given opportunity to grow.  Making ourselves get up and move again is what Satan doesn't want of us.  He wants us to be consumed with our failure. To be immobilized. 

Satan was revelling in his work on Peter until Jesus restored him.
Satan was revelling in his work through Saul, until he became Paul and began his work for the Gospel. 
Satan will celebrate in your life too until you get back up and move...move back towards Christ again. 

This world is not going to get better.  Hate to bring that newsflash but read your Bible.  It's just not.  Regardless of the people of this world, the Earth and all it contains, the Universe and all it contains, is preparing for Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to arise from His Throne and come back to Earth to claim His own.

We live in a time when all creation is groaning.  Mankind is joining in because life is being forced to be changed by governments.  Scripture has to be fulfilled. 

Consequences to our sin are inevitable. 
Forgiveness is certain as well.  So get back on your feet.  Ask forgiveness of sins, to Christ alone, and refocus on Heavenly things and thoughts.  Move!

No comments:

Post a Comment