A TINY LOOK AT JUDGMENT, REAPING, AND CONSEQUENCES

 

 

                            REAPING AND CONSEQUENCES (Newspaper article)

 

  Reading over my last entry regarding the Coronavirus and the Judgment of God I was concerned that I may have approached the topics a little too casually. Neither subject is to be taken lightly. To help remedy that, I wish to give a very tiny background on the Judgments of God and the principle of sowing and reaping. The price of foolishness, presumption, ignorance, and error, can be costly and eternal.

 

 To begin with, God has set order in the universe, both natural laws and moral laws. Regular and often even incidental violation of these has predetermined consequences. From the laws of science and probably through certain life experiences we can learn and have experienced some of the consequences when the natural laws are defied, like disregarding gravity. From the Bible and through the experiences of life itself we can learn and may have experienced some of the consequences of violating God’s immoral laws, like getting caught for stealing or lying.

 

  There are three basic realms of consequences for what I will term “immoral or sinful behaviour:”

 

 1 – Natural consequences

 

 2 – Subjecting and oppressive influences

 

 3 – Punitive consequences.

 

 Let us briefly look at them, although each of these are huge topics in themselves.

 

1-    NATURAL CONSEQUENCES – The natural consequences are the reaping of what a particular behavior will produce. For instance, sexually transmitted diseases are a natural consequence of what the Bible calls sexual sin.  Examples of natural consequences that may result from constant drunkenness are: hallucinations, liver disease, shrunken brain (that's a winner).

 

 The natural consequences can and will affect all associated parties, guilty or not. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

 

2-    SUBJECTING AND OPPRESSIVE INFLUENCES – This is a terrible and greatly miscalculated possible consequence of dark and sinful behavior. When we give ourselves over to certain activities we do not realize that we are exposing ourselves and making ourselves vulnerable to demonic forces, and people that serve them.  These forces are behind a lot of human activity. Not only so, but by opening the doors we are also subjecting ourselves and those around us to these influences, the associated people, and their danger. The drug culture  is a clear example.

 

Satanic forces are behind all sinful activity and can engage us when we embrace sinful practices. Their effect and growing mastery are most easily recognized in: out of control and irrational behavior, deteriorating health and lifestyle, constant bad… (although not everyone who mirrors these have demons).

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” John 10:10, Acts 19:13-16

“Evil pursues sinners…”Proverbs 13:21 

 

3-    PUNITIVE CONSEQUENCES – We are all familiar with punitive consequences, like breaking the Law. The Bible says that God actually placed the law enforcers to control evil behavior among people Romans 13 (if their power is being used correctly). Punitive consequences are meant to curb uncontrolled behavior and restore order. In other words, if we will not get our behavior under control the authorities will deal with it, as with theft and violence.

 

  On another level, the Lord may intervene directly when we as a people do not control our actions. Two huge examples in the Bible are Noah’s flood and Sodom and Gomorrah. In both instances the peoples’ behavior were severely out of control. During Noah’s day the earth was filled with violence, and God literally washed it away with a flood. In the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, God destroyed those cities by fire because of their rampant immoral behavior. Genesis 6-8, 18-19

 

  Not all sinful behavior has immediate consequences, but there is a point where we cross a line.  Because of God’s mercy and grace that point is difficult to predetermine; however, when we cross that line we can expect to reap one, two, or all three consequences. Still, not all consequences are grievous. By reaping some of the consequences, it can deter us from going further down the road to total disaster. I knew a guy, who after getting out of jail, told me that he was glad that they caught him when they did. He said that had they not caught him at that time, he was afraid of where the road on which he was travelling down would take him.
   The Bible is what dictates what is sin and what is not.

 Just because we may not be immediately experiencing consequences does not necessarily mean that what we are doing is not a sin. So we need to Know God's Word for life. Nor is it God's will to punish us, or even to correct us every time we are out of line or do something wrong. He loves us and desires to keep us safe and in His grace. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus. He prefers that we live our live by faith and love which is in Him.

 

 In conclusion, we must take life, and especially God, seriously. There is good, and there is evil, and we most certainly do not want to miss the mark with God. Consequences, reaping and sowing are guaranteed, so warnings and instructions should not be taken lightly.