Live with Consequences

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June 26, 2012

"Live with Consequences"

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 51:2-3  (HCSB) Wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.  For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.

Devotional Reading:

On February 3rd of 1998, the case of Karla Faye Tucker came to a close as she became only the second woman executed since the Civil War. Tucker was convicted of killing two people in Texas with a pickaxe along with an accomplice. What made the execution even more unusual was that there were thousands of people asking, then Governor George W. Bush, that her sentence be reduced to life in prison. That group included Pope John Paul and Pat Robertson (normally a proponent of the death penalty). This compassion was not because of her sex, but because while she was in prison, she became a devout born-again Christian. This case begs an interesting question. Why do we suffer the punishment for our sins even after God has forgiven us? Did He forgive her or not?  Yes, of course God forgave Karla Faye, just as He forgives anyone who genuinely repents. Jesus died for our sins, but understand that the sacrifice was to get us right with God, not to protect us from earthy consequences. The thief must still face prison, the child will be disciplined by his parents, and the adulterer still faces the risk of losing everything.  Look at the story of David. After being guilty of adultery, abuse of power, murder and coverup, the guilt of his sin clung to him everywhere he went. Then, he confessed his sin to God before a priest and he was instantly forgiven by God. Now, some of you are saying, “Well, that’s completely unfair." Listen. Are you listening? While God instantly forgave David, he did not remove the negative consequences of his sins. For the rest of his life, he found the consequences of his sins through a disillusioned family.  With repentance and confession, God forgives instantly. But He doesn’t remove the consequences of our sin. We have to live with those consequences.  Bear with and bear out those in your life that are in David's shoes...until you walk in them it's easy to assume all is well!

Keep the Son in your eyes,

Pastor Ben J Lahay

Galatians 2:20