Sin Has Consequences

by | Jan 8, 2017 | Uncategorized

“That which is has already been, and what is to be has already been; and God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15).

I feel like, in many churches, more emphasis is placed on God’s forgiveness as opposed to His holiness. I am so grateful for God’s mercy and forgiveness, but there are often still consequences to the fleshly decisions that we make. This is one reason that it is important to walk in the Spirit so that you do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

I don’t believe that God causes bad things to happen to His people but He does allow them, and sometimes it’s to remind us that sin has a price. Like most parents, He doesn’t give children instructions to be mean; He can see what the ravages of sin looks like, and He desires to spare us those things. He didn’t tell Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because He didn’t want them to taste something good; He saw the destruction and devastation that would cause, and we are still reaping the effects of that today.

As you look at your life and see the various sins and struggles you deal with, think about the effect those sins have on others. Even if no one knows what sin(s) you struggle with, everything is naked and open to God (Hebrews 4:13) and, if you are His child, and it will not be hidden forever.

If I end up writing more about this this year, it’s because I believe it is the message of 2017. Each year brings us closer to Christ’s return. We can’t afford to ignore His call to stop what we are doing, lay down the sins that so easily beset us, and follow Him. We must encourage others to do that as well but our words will have no bearing if we are not living that self-denying life.

I am writing to myself as well. The year is still young. I want to be faithful to allow God to show me my heart and the things which displease Him and trust that, at the end of this year, I will be closer to Him than ever before as I allow Him to rid me of myself and fill me with more of His love, peace, joy, patience, gentleness, self-control, and every other attribute that reflects Him.

I dealt with some physical challenges last year, and this year is starting out rough but, if I can do nothing else, I pray for God’s help to use the down times to listen to Him, hear what He would speak, and share those words with you.

Thank you to those who read my posts every Sunday. I’m grateful to David Bruce Murray and the rest of the Music Scribe contributors for allowing me to share with you all. May you have a blessed 2017 following after God with all your heart!

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Sony Elise

Sony Elise

Sony has been an avid southern gospel fan since she first heard The Happy Goodman Family on a cassette in the mid-1980s. She is the co-founder of Family Renewal and the owner of Sony Elise Editing Services.

2 Comments

  1. scottysearan

    Sony:

    Another Good article.

    You are right. There is more preached on God’s forgiveess than His Holiness and Holy Living.

    Here’s an interesting verse.

    Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. (Amos 5:14-15).

    Some interesting thoughts.

    What does it say to Seek? Good!! It doesn’t say to seek forgiveness.

    What is reward of seeking Good? That the Lord God will be with you.

    Go A little further. Three more things are mentioned.

    1. Hate the evil.

    2. Love the Good.

    3. Establish judgement in the gate.

    A person or church must do it in this order to please God. They have to hate sin, Do good and here’s the church part. Have judgement in the house of the Lord. The gate was the ruling area of the cities and so it is the gates represent the churches, the ruling area of the Saints of God.

    The Hinsons use to sing a song “Soul Filling Station.” They were talking about churches. What is happening in our churches is, that JUDGEMENT is not being preached from the pulpits. You can’t go out into a world and live and witness without being taught how to live.

    I am not talking about people being judged and being put out of the local assembly. I feel that that is a last resort.

    But what I am talking about judging between what is good and what is evil.

    But what I am talking about is sharing with each other the particular lifestyles and the way that we conduct ourselves that are evil and getting them out of lives.

    As you said there is a besetting sin we may all have problem with in our life. There are things that may be weights to us that cause our witness and walk with God to Holiness to be slowed or cast a shadow on that we need to get rid of. This is where JUDGEMENT IN THE GATE comes in.

    What is the reward of doing these 3 things? Grace. Amazing Grace

    One other scripture.

    13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

    14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Hebrews 12:13-14)

    There is judgement in this scripture/ We Make straight paths for our feet. God doesn’t make them, but we do. We Put off and put on things in our lives. There are people following you that still may be lame from the effects of sin and they will be healed if they follow our steps.

    I have gotta stop, but I am feeling good. I could do some more writing.

    Do we want to see God? Then let us Follow Peace and Holiness.

    God bless you.

    Reply
  2. Caravan7

    Hi Sony,

    Great exposition from God’s word. Got a question….to ponder on….Do you think we should be held accountable for what Adam and Eve did in the garden? Should the rest of God’s creation be punished for the “original sin” that was committed by God’s first perfect couple? I am doing a research and study on this knowing already that God’s plan of salvation has already been justified. God Bless, will be praying for your health issues. I’ve got one too.

    Snapper 7

    Reply

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