Consequences

There are consequences for all actions, yes all actions. When you take positive action, the consequence is a positive result. When you take negative actions, the consequence is a negative result. We seem to think of consequences as only negative and when negative does not come, then we think we are in the clear.

Biblical consequences occur and we seem to find them polarizing. We seem to look at the negative consequences to our actions with God to be unjust and we think that positive consequences should be the result of not taking negative actions. See below for the view that John has as the New Heaven and New Earth are revealed to him.

“⁶And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. ⁷The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. ⁸But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.’” – Revelation 21:6-8 (ESV)

Verses six and seven speak to the consequences to the actions taken to glorify and honor God, whereas verse eight the consequences to the opposite. Notice that the positive consequences to be full life and communion with God, whereas the negative consequence is casting out and “the second death”. The negative consequences seem so much more dramatic, when in actual application both the positive and negative are equally spectacular.

You see, we don’t see the positive consequences really at all. We don’t think of positive results of our actions because we have come to only think of consequences as negative and when they don’t come we just pass them off as continuing on with things. But, look closely at verses six and seven above. See the result, quenched thirst and heir with Jesus and for what, turning to and accepting God for who He is and what He gives to us. We are conquerors of this world thanks to the redeeming grace of God the Father.

But, negative consequences we know all to well. We notice them at every turn. When things don’t turn out the we planned we look to place blame. We do not accept that we may have done something to be rewarded with the negative consequence. The reality is that our actions have generated a result and that result is negative and we push back at acceptance of the result. With God, the negative result/consequence is quite something, “the second death” as noted in verse eight above. See the actions and the breadth of those actions that generate the result. From lying to being faithless all generate the negative consequence of “the second death”.

We look at things so differently in our lives. We do not see consequences for our actions the same way. We barely notice the consequence to positive action and we blame negative consequences on someone else entirely. In reality, positive and negative consequences are there exclusively based on the actions, or even inaction that we take each day. For bringing glory to and leaning on the LORD the consequence is the quenching of our thirst and life in the presence of God. For thinking only of self, we are rewarded with “the second death” and will spend eternity in lake of fire. All actions have consequences.

What is your view of consequences? Do you really only think of negative consequences or results? What if you were to look to the positive consequences of your actions as you bring glory to and lean on God?

Seek to be Pleasing to God

I have to remember that sin is sin is sin. There are things that we don’t think about being sin that are, like lusting in your heart. When we lust after another that is not our spouse, then we have committed sin. No, it is not a sin to admire another, but lusting after them certainly is. Omitting something so as “not to offend” them is a sin in that it is a lie of omission. So being pleasing to God is so hard in this life.

“¹⁸Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.” – Hebrews 13:18 (ESV)

The writer of Hebrews asks for prayer to assist in the acting “honorably in all things”. The writer knows that we are not free from sin and need help as they “desire” to do be pleasing to God.

This verse and passage is so telling and the honest approach that each of us should have. There are so many things in our life that corrupt us into sin. Whether we are consciously aware of them or not. I know that I pray for forgiveness daily for the sins I have committed and will commit. I know that I have sinned, maybe not consciously, but subconsciously for sure. I cannot get through a day without sinning in some fashion and no one can. But, I can seek to be pleasing to God. I can strive to be better.

I don’t steal and I don’t kill. These are the conscious sins that everyone can see and I do well in avoiding these sins. But, look at how I open this post and the subconscious sin that we may not be aware. Those are the ones that get me. I will commit those sins that are under the surface that hurt God the Father. He knows of them before I am aware and is hurt by them. They are not pleasing to Him, and I must ask for forgiveness for those.

The verse above is a great one to remind me and us that we are to seek honor in everything we do. We are to do those things that are pleasing to the LORD. I am tasked with bring glory to the LORD and avoiding sin does that, but confessing sin and asking for forgiveness does as well. Allowing the LORD to work in my life gives Him glory and therefore brings joy to His face.

What is your view on being pleasing to the LORD? Do you believe in the idea that if you avoid the known sin you have somehow won the battle? What if you were to seek to please the LORD by allowing Him to work in your life?

The Law is for the Immoral

How often is it that you are breaking the law? Do you even think about the law as you go through your daily life? Are you concerned with your actions and how they align with the law? I can say that for me, I rarely think about whether or not something I am doing is legal or not. I will look to whether or not it is right.

“⁸Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, ⁹understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, ¹⁰the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,” – 1 Timothy 1:8-10 (ESV)

Looking at the above passage, we see that the law was put in place, not for those who are “just” it is put in place for those who would be unjust or “lawless and disobedient” or immoral. Those who are “just” and right, do not need the law as they follow the LORD and the path that He has laid out for them.

I am not saying that the law is not needed. What I am saying is that it is in place for those who are not followers of Christ and His righteous direction. Those who follow Christ do work for Him and therefore are not working against the law. It is not that they are ignorant of the law or choose to disobey the law, it is that it just does not come up as they are already in standing in morality according the God.

It is certainly difficult to understand for those who are not followers of Christ. They would contend that the law is for everyone and that even followers of Christ are subject to the law. I would not argue with their assertion. I would state that there is no real thought as to what is legal or illegal as the situations rarely arise and when they do, the thought of “What Would Jesus Do” is guiding action as opposed to the law.

Now, the other question, what if a follower of Christ does indeed break the law? Great question. Then they are subject to the consequences. Following Christ is going to put you in positions where choices will be made as to legality or right. There are times when the right thing to do is not in line with what is legal and for that followers of Christ are subject to the consequences of going against the law. Again, it is not that the law is being ignored, it is that following Christ is taking the right actions.

For all there direction. For the Christian, that direction comes from God and His Word. The law is in place for the immoral who have no other guide as to what is right and what is wrong.

Where do you find your guide? Are you in the camp of needing the law to determine what you can and cannot do? What if you followed Christ, knowing that your actions are right?

Immoral is in the Dark

“⁵For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” – Ephesians 5:5 (ESV)

The above verse is where I was led this morning in my study of the word “immoral”. I see again the use of immoral in the sexual context, but I also see more of the same definition as noted before that immoral is wicked / bad. I have taken on that as my substitute for the word to define for myself what immorality is.

“⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not become partners with them; ⁸for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), ¹⁰and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. ¹³But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, ¹⁴for anything that becomes visible is light.” – Ephesians 5:6-14a (ESV)

Now to the passage and my learning from it. The passage in my ESV Bible is titled, “Walk in Love”. I would add “Light” to that as well after reading and seeing more. We are to be the and in the light. Evil parades around in darkness. It is shrouded in secret. It is hidden behind closed doors. It is where things are not known to everyone, that is in the beginning. Immorality is in the dark.

As we review the passage above and the full passage of Ephesians 5:1-21 we see that walking in love as Christ is also walking in the light for all to see. It is here that people see your actions on display. We should be on display for the world to see as followers and imitators of Christ. We want the world to be exposed to His glory and the salvation that comes with knowing and submitting to Him.

Yes, we do have a right to privacy and intimacy within our home. I for one enjoy and look forward to spending that quality time with Lori that is devoted to just the two of us. Yet, when it is not just the two of us in our private time, we are to expose ourselves to the world to see. We are to show the world Christ, who is in us. We are give ourselves to the spreading of the Gospel and ensuring that the LORD is on full display in our lives.

See in verse 8 above that we are now “light in the Lord” and we are to “Walk as children of light”. This means to me that I have to stay out of the darkness for that is where wicked/bad or immoral resides. I have to be the light and stay out of the darkness. Yes, there is something to say about bringing light to the darkness, but that is a topic for another time. It is better for me to keep my light there for all to see and stay out of the darkness to have the best chance and keeping away from the immoral or wicked/bad that resides there.

What is your take on darkness? Are you comfortable there where the wicked/bad or immoral reside? What if you were to stay out of the darkness and be in the light what/where you are called to be as a follower of Christ?

Immoral, Sin Against Self

Again, as usual, the LORD has learned me something. I ask for God’s guidance in my daily Bible Study and He is always there. Today is no different in my study of the word “immoral”.

“¹⁸Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18 (ESV)

As stated, my approach to Bible Study is choosing a word in the concordance of my Bible and going verse be verse as identified and allowing God to teach me. I do not go in with a specific agenda, other than the word itself and I allow God to lead me to what He would have me learn. This morning The LORD led me to learn about being immoral and sinning against my self.

When you see the title of the passage from this morning, “Flee Sexual Immorality”, you would think that it is indeed subject of learning. Where to some extent that is true, this morning, God would have me learn of being immoral and sinning against my self. You see, the verse above does speak of sexually immorality, yet it speaks of it in such a way that we are sinning against our own selves even as we sin against God.

Think of sinning in general. Steal something and you harm someone else. Kill someone and you harm someone else. Serve another god and you harm God. All of these sins are harmful to others and have perceived upside to you. Except for sexual sin and immorality. With this one, it is us who are harmed. Yes, maybe there is some pleasure and gratification in the moment, but what about after that moment. There are so many other things that happen, possible pregnancy, disease, lying, hiding and a whole host of other things that come with it. We may be sinning and may be immoral in our actions, but it is deeper in that we are acting against ourselves.

“¹⁹Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

And just what is our self. Our self is “a temple of the Holy Spirit”. We are the place where God dwells and lives. We belong to God and in that we are to keep our bodies clean and pure. With sexual immorality, we are sinning against our self and therefore desecrating the temple of the LORD.

I personally do not want to desecrate the temple of the LORD. Where I will sin, because I am a sinner and will always be. I ask the LORD daily to guard me against conscious sin. Where, as noted above, sin is harmful to others and certainly disappointing to the LORD, it is the sexual immorality where it really stings. It stings because it is against my self and the temple of the LORD. I have to work at avoiding sin, and especially sexual immorality to not desecrate my self and more importantly the dwelling place of the LORD.

What is your view of sexual immorality? Are you seeing it just as any other sin? What if you saw it as noted here as desecration of your self and more importantly, the temple of the LORD?

Immoral

Immoral: not moral: wicked, bad – Merriam-Webster Online (Kids Definition)

I went I normally go for definitions when learning, Merriam-Webster. This morning as I was looking up the word “immoral” that I have begun to study, I found that the definition is using the a form of the word to define the word. The definition that is presented to begin with is the same as with the above in the “Kids Definition”, “not moral”. Yet, that does not really speak to what immorality is. So, I worked my way down to the “Kids Definition” to find the definition that spoke to me as someone who does not know, and the “wicked, bad” really summed it up.

“⁹Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV)

I have looked at immorality from a more, as is noted in the above verses, sexual context. We look to sexual perversion as the driver of immoral behavior, whether it is homosexuality, or some other act outside of what the LORD meant for intimacy between a husband and wife. These are what are considered immoral acts in the Christian community. But look further into the verses above and then into the definition of immoral and find a broader context. Immoral is “wicked, bad” and in the verses, we see “idolaters, thieves, greedy, drunkards, revilers, swindlers”. All of these, where not tied directly to immoral, are still “wicked, bad”.

I look to sin as the identifier of immoral. And in ALL sin we are conducting immoral or wicked, bad things outside what the LORD intended for us. God intended us to be perfect as He is, after all, we were created in the image of God. It was not until we sinned for the first time were we considered outside of God’s plan for us. And think about that sin, it was not of a sexual context, it was covetousness and greed and theft and deception that led to “The Fall”. We fell from grace for what the world would consider a meaningless act of eating a piece of fruit. Yet, it was that act outside of the will of God that led to our sin fall from the grace of God.

It is not always the grand things that lead to destruction. It is any thing that is outside the will of God. Even the eating of a piece of fruit can be “wicked, bad” when it was strictly forbidden by the Father. We are sinners thanks to the acts of Adam and Eve, and we will not escape immorality until we are are resurrected to be with God. Immoral is “wicked, bad” that are displayed for the world, or more accurately witnessed in us by the Father.

What is your view of immoral? Do you see it from the lens related to sexual acts and perversions? What if you were to see immoral as defined by Merriam-Webster Online for kids as simply “wicked, bad”?