A World of No Consequence
Avoiding eternal consequences is impossible.
There is no gospel without addressing consequences.
Sin equals … something.
The results are coming in.
The mindset of reducing the consequences of sin causes one to lose appreciation for the power of God‘s gospel.
That’s a lot to think about.
One of, if not the greatest deception-games going, sounds like this… “Ye shall not surely die.”
In other words, the consequences won’t hit you that hard. God‘s not that serious. Sin doesn’t cause massive catastrophes. Deceivers tend to downplay the results of today’s decision. Darkness laughs when people think Hell is more of a “mental construct”.
Either there is an everlasting Hell and therefore the Gospel is urgent … or there is no Hell and the Gospel is ridiculous.
What I do today is important because consequences of my choices impact God, my family, my community, and the ripple-effect goes on for generations to come.
Choices carry consequences.
The gospel highlights consequences.
Romans 6:21,23 “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. … for the wages of sin is death.”
We have to come face-to-face with our problem.
Yet we live in a world convinced that consequences are … fluffy, or something we should fight against.
Examples of Devil talk:
”Smoke dope freely. There will be no enforcement.”
”Go ahead and fornicate, just kill the consequences.”
“Don’t prepare to witness, because you’ll not be held responsible for failing to deliver the news.”
”As if the results of me not obeying God are somehow my responsibility?” (That was sarcasm. It’s sometimes helpful. But not in strong doses.)
What I do today is important because I’m exchanging my actions now for future results.
Children require clear comprehension that consequences are coming … if that child is going to be successful in graduating into mature adulthood.
Don’t show up to work. Will there be consequences?
Drive 100 miles an hour. Eventually, the consequences will catch you.
Don’t exercise or exert energy. Consequence: enjoy the jell-o bod.
Lava-launch anger-acid all over people close to you and experience the resulting reciprocation or eventual separation.
Consequences can be positive as well. Invest years working with the addicted, the homeless, and struggling masses and see the impact of your soul increasing capacity for empathy and your communication skills developing.
The future is a string of consequences.
Heaven is a consequence.
Hell is a consequence.
Sin carries consequence.
Our choices must matter right now.
We can wish all we want that consequences just evaporate like a dream upon waking. But reality proves consequences are like concrete. It’s there. It’s not going away.
The devil is the master deceiver. If he and his writhing, deformed, demon-creatures can trick us into the trap of diminishing consequences … then we freely act more stupid in the present.
Snake language smells like this: “It’s OK, you’ll get away with it. You did it last time. What’s the harm? Where are the consequences? Where’s that God who loves you enough to step in and stop you from self-destruction? It’s not that harmful. It’s just called fun. Just take it. You’re smart! Evaluate the forbidden item for yourself, Eve. Just rethink the consequences on your terms. God said eat and die. But what if … it’s less-than-death?
What if God was bluffing?
What if God knows that the consequences will not really be that drastic?
Go for it. Jump into bed. Jump into that business relationship. Go after whatever you want.”
A simpleton significantly ignores large portions of the coming consequences.
Most people who learned any lesson in Scripture did so by facing consequences.
We can embrace the pain of correction. Or we can bristle and bluster and go bitter because life-choices are linked to consequences.
What does it take to get my attention?
How much pressure is required to help me do right?
Most of us are allergic to pain. :) Yet pain is a GREAT teacher.
How does this relate to the gospel? If there’s no consequences for my actions here on earth … the gospel is hollow. It just became pointless, gutless. If there’s no consequence for sin … then have fun!
Do whatever and die happy.
Because if Hell is a lie, then everything else is a lie as well.
I grew up in a family with consequences. There were clear boundaries. Sometimes those boundaries wavered a little bit, based on the mood. But predictability is comforting. We kids knew, when our parents got fired up that they were not just tossing-out words. Oh, no. There was solid action rolling right behind those words. Consequences were real. We understood … real good.
A life with zero pain cannot progress past kindergarten.
Have you ever met somebody who just throws a tantrum every time they get in trouble? I mean it’s an endless stream of toddler-level babbling every time life presents an obviously deserved consequence. So you got a ticket? Well, go ahead and complain about it for as long as possible … to as many people as will listen.
If one seeks to live a life “free of consequence” … definitely do not get a job. Because there will be an attendance policy … with consequences. :)
”Oh, so you had a payroll deduction for not showing up to work at all? Hmmm. Why should that be a surprise?” That’s not shocking. How could a company function if there was zero attendance policy? Just show up whenever. But you want to throw a tantrum over having a small amount deducted from your paycheck because you agreed to follow the company manual. Everyone else understood the consequences. But when you can’t get out of bed on time, who’s responsibility is that?
Full grown adults who cannot see the value of consequences in life are not going to get along well … with God.
The overwhelming pattern in Scripture reveals God attempting to get our attention through a variety of methods and seasons, while of course exercising love and patience, but also with persistence and skillful parenting. God is our Father, therefore we should listen to His policies.
Cain was first to complain.
Genesis 4:13 “And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.”
I just can’t handle the consequences!!!
Wait a minute. Let’s evaluate. Cain, what did you do? He committed murder against his own brother. When the Judge of all the Earth delivered to Cain a reasonable and FAR more lenient punishment than he deserved… baby Cain instantly exploded into a toddler tantrum. “Behold, [kind of telling God, ‘Look what You done did, God!’] Thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; (really?) and from Thy face shall I be hid (O, really?) ; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.”
Cain, slap yourself in the face. Wake up, buddy. You deserve to die; you killed someone. Do you have zero remorse for your actions? You DO know that when someone sheds innocent blood that criminal’s blood should be spilt. Right? I mean that’s Divine balance. That’s logical. Don’t kill the humans, especially not your brothers.
Stop exaggerating, Cain. You’re saying, “Everyone’s going to kill me?” You’re going to be hid from the face of God? How — what? Everyone’s gonna kick you out? Literally anyone who finds you is going to kill you?
You’re just hyperventilating. Pause. Breathe.
How are humans related to Cain? We enjoy pouting about any penalty served. We whine about Hell. We 100% deserve Hell. Currently many people live in delusion that they will never be separated from God in eternity. That’s the imagination working overtime. “Well, I can’t imagine how I would deserve Hell. Being such an amazing person myself.”
Yeah. The demons should pay you rent for all the time they spend in your head.
Through strong mental gymnastics we avoid the reality of consequences. We pretend the penalty is maybe due … far-far away in the fluffy future. Yet God’s consequences show up on Him time, not ours.
“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” Ecc 8:11.
The gospel is consequential.
No consequence = no gospel.
What’s the greatest punishment? (There’s only one answer to fill-in that blank.)
Seems the greater the punishment, the more we push-back or protest.
“I disagree with the severity of the sentence, Your Honor. My client should only serve 10 years.”
“But I don’t WANNA live in Hell.” Well, it’s kind of up to you to do something about it before you end up there. Because that’s where we are all heading, naturally.
Please, allow your heart and mind and will to embrace reality as described in the gospel. Hug your consequences. Accept God’s offer to RESOLVE your consequences.
There’s no skipping-ahead to the reward of eternal life without first embracing the penalty we deserve. Own your L. Make it personal.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of [MY] sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
One cannot receive the gift of eternal life without first acknowledging the full wages due for my personal sin.
May the conviction power of the Holy Ghost wake up our hearts to see what’s coming.
The penalty for not paying attention is a surprise. Just like running through the garage in the dark … smash, Ouch! Pretending consequences don’t exist does not make them less painful.
“Well I kinda like the gospel, just not that part about Hell.” The rest of the gospel disconnects and falls apart if there is no consequence.
“But can’t we make the Lake of Fire … a little less painful?”
That would be reducing the power of the payment.
We cannot be saved unless we are saved from something. “ … we shall be saved FROM WRATH through Him” Romans 5:9.
Every action does have a matching consequence. Hell is a real and lasting consequence for my sin.
Mark 9:46 speaks of a place “Where their worm [slang for body] dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
The thief on the cross understood consequences. “And we indeed justly; for we receive the DUE REWARD of our deeds: but this Man [JESUS] hath done nothing amiss” Luke 23:41.
The wonder of salvation is the magnitude of the payment. The immensity of the love required to pay such an immeasurable consequence.
Christ Jesus carried all our consequences on His cross.
Therefore we love Him enough to share the gospel.