Consequences
[Note: This really is a huge subject. This short article mentions just a few points regarding this matter.]
God regarded King David as a special man. God said he was a man after His own heart (1Sam_13:14, Acts_13:22). God loves everyone because He is love but some people are just easier to be around. God found something in this man that He liked.
While David was a man with a sensitive heart toward the things of God, there was another aspect to him as there is in all of us. One night he saw a beautiful woman and got her pregnant. He tried to get her husband Uriah to lay with his wife to cover up the crime but was unsuccessful. David then planned the military death of Uriah which no doubt necessitated the death of several other soldiers as well. He now felt he could rightfully marry the widow.
David went on for several weeks or months without considering the incidents as sin. Finally, God sent a prophet to stealthily confront David about the crimes he had committed. King David, in ignorance and with an oath, pronounced death upon a man who would dare do such terrible things.
When David was confronted by the man of God that is was he that had committed the capital crimes, he admitted his sin. Then the prophet declared unto him,
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. (2Sam 12:13)
David admitted his guilt before God and before the prophet. He repented. He could not make anything right with the people involved but he did call it sin. God put away his sin as if it never happened. God canceled David's oath that pronounced death upon himself. God promised there would be no death to David because of these terrible crimes. Whew! Done. Forgiven. Pardoned. Death penalty removed. What a relief! Now life can go on.
No. Now all hell is going to break loose in David's life, family, and in his empire.
Wait! I thought all was forgiven. I thought God forgot all about it. I thought the death penalty had been canceled.
This is extremely difficult to understand. As far as the Eternal God is concerned (and that is what really matters) David's sin was put away. That means it is as if it never occurred. However, now the temporary consequences are going to start. And they lasted for a lifetime. Immorality plagued his household. His sons were murdered.
Forgiveness is different in the spiritual realm than it is in the earthly realm. Forgiven in the spirit is different than it is for the soul. Forgiveness is different in the eternal realm than it is in the temporary realm. Forgiven is different for the unchangeable realm than it is for the realm that is subject to change.
Do not despair. Hold on for a few more minutes.
I know a minister that was involved in terrible immorality. He was molesting his daughters. One day he came to his senses. He repented. He asked God for forgiveness. He was forgiven by God. He could not really make things right with his family but he was serious and sincere. This man had not touched his daughters for 2 years. That proves his repentance was real. Then, after 2 years of genuine repentance, one afternoon when this man came home the sheriff was parked in his driveway, waiting for him. A lifetime of consequences began including 3 ninety-nine year sentences in prison.
But I thought all was forgiven. I thought he repented and stopped sinning. I thought God forgave him and made everything bad go away! God did that. Now, the consequences started; the temporary consequences.
I personally know a man who was a bank robber. He once went to prison for robbing a safe. The day he was released from jail he robbed the same safe in the same business that he was originally arrested and sentenced for. When he was finally caught again, he was sentenced to 900 years. Guess what. He was miraculously released. No consequences.
I know another man who had lived 8 years as a woman. He said he “had thousands of sexual encounters” with other men. He got saved and repented of his deviant lifestyle. He even got married. When he had a blood test the result was HIV negative. No consequences.
What is going on? Why do some Christians go through the “meat grinder” and others have no consequences for their former sin? It makes no sense. In talking with my wife about this question I believe we were given some understanding.
Do not do it again!
I have one child that I never disciplined. He never did anything wrong (when I was looking). I was never able to correct him because he would never disobey. Just one semi-stern look at him would make him seriously concerned that he might have done wrong. (I am not sure if that is good or bad.) Not all children are like that, if you have noticed.
I believe the purpose of consequences for sin is not to punish but rather to make sure the child or person stops doing the sin or the wrong thing. Some people learn from a simple verbal correction. Other people cannot seem to see the association between their sin and the resulting consequence. Some people will change just by a word of instruction. This is God's favorite method of dealing with His children.
Many people, however, need to have constant correction. They say they are sorry and they really are sorry that they got caught. They have no intention, however, of stopping the choices that get them severe consequences. God is trying to get one thing through: Stop it! Some people do modify their behavior but they never see their sin as their sin. And so, a lifetime of disaster follows them. Many will never have the consequences cease. King David had some wonderful qualities. One of his negative ones was that he could never learn from the past.
Do not do it again!
Jesus encountered a man who had been sick 38 years! He healed him and later
...Jesus ... said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14)
In this case it seems that the 38 year paralysis was related to some previous sin. However, it is important to realize that not all sickness is discipline.
Jesus encountered a woman who was caught in adultery. To her
... Jesus said ..., Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:11)
No consequences to this woman. Her painful situation was definitely caused by sin. This public humiliation and encounter with Jesus was enough to eliminate the need for any further correction.
Are you one that sees constant disaster in your life? If you are a real Christian, in your deepest heart, you probably know what it is all about. One of the first things you need to do is make sure it is not the devil kicking your brains in because he has found some legal inroad into your life. If you know it is God's dealing with you, know this: God only disciplines His children. He does not bother with the unsaved. It is only those He loves that He corrects.
Feb. 17, 2024