Consequences

We can all remember getting in trouble with our parents. I had very good parents that tried to steer me in a direction toward God by making sure I suffered the consequences of my actions. I was never happy with punishment, but even then, I knew it was necessary. When I did wrong, there was always just punishment when the infraction was found out. The greater the disobedience, the greater the punishment.

In Jeremiah, Israel had sinned against God. He was known by all as their God. They had brought great shame to His name, and they were now in captivity. They were being chastised by their very own God. God was acting to seek to bring them to repentance. God takes full responsibility for what is happening to them. In verse 15 he says, “I have done these things unto thee,” but he reminds them it was their own fault. Not only had they sinned, but their sins were also increasing. Instead of waking up, understanding what was going on, and repenting, they continued to sin. Now the consequences were getting stronger.

Jeremiah 30:15 “Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.”

We need to understand this was written so that we might learn from it.

II Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

God never does anything just because He can. There is a design and purpose in each word recorded in scripture and each action God takes. If you will notice the first word in II Timothy 3:16 is, “All.” A preacher friend of ours use to say, “all means all, and that’s all, all means.” God didn’t make a mistake when he inspired writers to pen what he wanted us to know.

It may seem harsh to you that God would deal with His own people this way, but this is also the way he deals with us. There is a biblical principle here that too often we forget. Just because judgment doesn’t fall immediately, doesn’t mean God has forgotten or just looked over our sin. This is the principle of sowing and reaping. Paul instructs us in Galatians 6:7-8, that we cannot mock God. We will reap what we sow. We are sometimes like the toddler who is told no, and then, looks you in the face to see your reaction, as they proceed to disobey. When we sin and get comfortable in that sin, it’s like flaunting it in God’s face. We act like the toddler who wants to see how close they can get to disobedience before someone reacts. When no one reacts, they think they have gotten away with it. So, it must be ok. If not stopped this toddler will continue in disobedience until the consequences will be out of the parents’ control.

Galatians 6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 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.”

Consequences will continue to be with us on this earth even though we have been forgiven. Moses was forgiven for striking the rock when God told him to speak to it. God forgave him and used him mightily, but he wasn’t allowed to go into the promised land. He had led Israel all the way for 40 years, but disobedience cost him.

On the other side of the coin, we will reap joy and life everlasting when we do what is right. We will be happy here, and forevermore. Godly behavior will reap good consequences. Joseph was a good example of that. He was dealt a horrible hand by his own brothers, but as they sought to hurt him, he stayed true to God, and God blessed. His consequences were good, because his actions were good. If we walk in the Spirit, we will experience the joy and the glory of life.

While those who have put their sins under the blood will be forgiven, and spend eternity in Heaven, there will still be the natural consequences of their sin here. It doesn’t matter if it is blatant, open, evil sin, or inward, such as pride, bitterness, or anger, we will have consequences. I read somewhere a saying that describes this perfectly. You can pull the nail out of the wall, but you can’t pull out the hole.

Consequences may be painful, but they stand as a reminder of what we were before Christ. They also help us to not repeat the sin and go further away from God. When a child runs toward the street you grab him and tell him “no.” If he proceeds you make the consequences a little stronger each time until the pain from his actions is not worth the pleasure he gains from running to the street. Do you do this because you are mean? No, you do it because you love him, and want to protect him from further pain. God does the same with us. A godly parent makes this reaping and sowing, or rather consequences principle, very apparent in their child’s life early. The quicker they understand obedience pays, and disobedience hurts, the happier life they will have.

Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” 

While there is nothing pleasant about suffering consequences it is necessary. It was inevitable for God’s people in the Bible, and it is inevitable for us as well. The wonderful news is. that even then, God will be present with us, and his mercy and grace will see us through if we continue to walk with Him.

Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”