Consequences. I would hazard a guess to say that a lot of people don’t always think about consequences when they are making decisions, especially if they are making emotional decisions on the spur of the moment. I am at the end of the line for one of those consequences from a decision that I made quickly, on the spur of the moment, somewhat emotionally. It has definitely made me stop and think about those kind of consequences a little more readily.
My brother needed his bathroom shower redone. He saw a commercial for a company that did bathroom tub/shower remodels in a couple of days. He gave them a call and set up an appointment for someone to come and speak with him. I was there when the man was there because I wanted to see about replacing our tub with a walk-in shower for my momma. She was going downhill pretty quickly and she was having a difficult time stepping up into the tub.
We talked to the gentleman and he was a very good salesman. We both signed on the dotted line, because, of course, this deal was only good while he was there, and my brother’s bathroom really desperately needed to be remodeled, and of course, my momma needed to be able to utilize the bathroom a little easier. Did I mention, that my bathroom was in excellent condition. It did not need to be remodeled. I just wanted this for my momma. Oh, consequences.
Let’s just say that we definitely did not get the best deal. Those TV commercial salesman are very good at what they do. The consequence of making a knee-jerk decision in that moment caused us both to pay probably at least a third more on that remodel than it would’ve cost with a comparable company. We paid way too much, and it made me crazy every month when it was time for payment…or should I say, the overpayment. Plus, I have really hard feelings at the shower to this day, even though it is very nice. I don’t think I will ever love it.
I know that was kind of an inconsequential story to talk about consequences. There are really important decisions that we make where we should think about what the consequences are going to be down the road. The most important decision we can make concerns our eternity, and the consequence of that decision will never go away.
The Apostle Paul talks about consequences in Romans Chapter six.
I just wanted to say a little something about the actual scripture passages that I base my blog posts on. The scriptures I reference will be shortly after my prayer, sometimes with related crosses-references listed also. What I want to do with my blog posts is to talk in simple language about how I, personally, see the passage, how I understand it, and possibly try to help someone else understand it. One thing I am hoping you will do is find the scriptures in your own Bible and let them speak to you. God’s Word will never change, but it is a living thing and can speak to us throughout different phases of our lives in different ways, depending on our experiences, spiritual maturity and current circumstances. But never doubt, God‘s word will always speak to you if you open your heart and listen.
So, back to consequences…In Romans 6:20-23, Paul talks about the end result of sin, the consequence. Then he talks about the amazing gift of God.
He explained to them that before they came to know Christ, and the gift that he presented them, they were servants of the sin that controlled them. They felt no obligation to righteousness because they knew nothing about it. They did not realize they were sinners before God revealed it to them.
Ah, but after they came to know Christ and His sacrifice, Paul showed them the fruit they had produced before they knew Christ brought shame to them when they looked back on it. For looking at it, they could see that it would have only offered them death at the end.
Paul reminded them that in being made free from sin, and giving themselves to God as servants, their fruit had been changed from death to holiness. The holiness that would bring eternal life.
Paul spelled out in simple words that the wages they were gaining from sin, would have only led them to death. Ah, but the amazing gift from God they had received is the opposite of death. It is eternal life. This eternal life came from Jesus Christ, their Lord!
What is the challenge that this passage presents? I see the challenge here on two levels.
- For Christ followers: I believe the challenge here could be that they don’t remember that sin has consequence…getting so comfortable with salvation, and settling into the world system to the point that it does not become urgent to tell others about the consequence.
- For those that do not know Christ: The challenge here could be that they do not know the consequence of sin…that they need to somehow see that they are sinners and that they need the One thing that can bring them eternal life and save them from eternal separation from God.
How can these verses be applied to our lives? Again, this could be applied on two levels:
- For Christ followers: It could be that those whose sins have been forgiven should remember, “The wages of sin is death; and the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” As the days lengthen toward the end of the age, we need to become passionate about telling others how they can avoid the consequence of eternal death.
- For those that do not know Christ: Applying this passage could mean acknowledging and accepting the message of, “The wages of sin is death; and the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” As the days lengthen toward the end of the age, they need to hear and understand how they can avoid the consequence of eternal death.
What does this mean to my faith? My faith is strengthened because I am assured that the gift I accepted from God will bring me to eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord. As I serve my God, I can be certain that, even though I could never produce one ounce of holiness, the sacrifice of Christ covers all my sin and the thing that God sees when he looks at me is the holiness of Christ covering me and He offers me everlasting life because of that.
Lord, I am thankful that I came to know what the consequences of sin were and that, through Your Son, I now have an eternal relationship with You, and will live in Your presence for eternity. Help me to never lose the desire to want to tell others about Your precious gift and point them toward You. Help me to never let the consequences of not telling someone about You slip out of view.
P.S. Well….I guess I’ve been a bit preachy today and gone over my five minute read that I try really hard to stick to. But, I’m not sorry. If we have joined ourselves together with Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, we need to feel an urgency to tell others about Him.
~~~~~~~~~
Scripture Reference:
“20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:20-23 (KJV)
Scripture Cross-References:
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:28 (KJV)
“12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:11,12 (KJV)
_____________
I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.
What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him? You can know Him. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.
Here is a web page that will give you more information about Jesus Christ and how He can change your eternity: Start Your NewLife With Christ.
In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
————————
Blog Image My Photos
Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 