Coffee With The Lord

Consequences… we all have experienced them. I’ve got a list I’ve experienced… won’t go into detail… But let me tell you, despite God’s forgiveness I have some regrets! So did Apostle Paul. He said, “I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:9) He went on to say in another place, “formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus Christ. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost!” (1 Timothy 1:13-15) Even Peter, although forgiven, had deep regrets over his denial of Jesus.

There are consequences (and they can be and are brutal)!

Just read today in my Bible about the sad, sad, consequences of disobedience and rebellion in the life of a promising, anointed leader – King Saul (first King of Israel) in 1 Samuel 15. Saul decided to disobey and rebel. When confronted by Samuel, he only repented to save face. As a result, God’s enabling Spirit departed from him! He was tormented by an evil spirit. The kingdom was eventually torn from his hands and given to another! Consequences!

What should we do when we experience and face the consequences of some decision or action of ours? My suggestion? Face it! Accept it! Don’t excuse it! In fact, exercise true repentance (repentance is not simply to saying, “I’m sorry” – true repentance means turning from sin!) Then we should seek and trust in God’s steadfast love and mercy! He will forgive… He promised to! (1 John 1:8-9) Then begin to live a life of obedience… sustained obedience… regardless of the consequences of our actions.

Sure wish Saul in the Bible would have done that… If he had I believe his story would have ended differently… Perhaps his story would have been more like David’s (you recall he was a sinner too… and experienced some sad consequences for his sin).

But realistically, going to heaven is a long journey! There’ve been mountain tops and deep valleys. I wish I could tell you every moment has been victorious and my life has been scrupulously righteous… but I’ve had my “carnal moments” and spiritual failures… If getting to heaven depends entirely on me, I’m washed up… ain’t gonna make it! You too, huh?

To complicate matters, when I was thinking about all of this today, I was reminded of these verses from Revelation, the last book in the Bible – kinda scary…

“The one who conquers [overcomes] will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But 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… Nothing unclean will ever enter it [heaven], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:7-8, 27) “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (22:14-15)

I know I’m prone to sin; so I’m very grateful for what 1 John 1:9 declares…

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us! If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness!”

But I also read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 in my Bible this morning – a wonderful apostolic prayer and word of assurance to all of us who are on this wonderful adventure and journey toward heaven…

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely [set you apart as God’s own child and make you holy]! And may your whole spirit and soul and body be help blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it!” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ESV)

Praise the Lord! He’s at work in my life! I’m His project… He has forgiven my sin and made me His own! I’m not a finished product yet, but day-by-day He’s reproducing His character in me so that I am more and more “Christlike!” One of these days the trumpet will sound and I’ll go to meet Him… At that moment what is now process will be completed… I’ll be blameless in His sight! A citizen of heaven!

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of things that we are responsible for and we should not avoid our obligation with those things. There are many things however that are NOT our responsibility – things we have no personal control over – frankly, things where we should just “mind our own business” and trust the Lord! We get all worked up over things that we should pray about, things we should keep our mouth shut about, and situations about which we should just trust the Lord! How do I know? I’ve been guilty! So the passage I read this morning was for me (and perhaps will help you as well). Here it is…

“O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time forth and forevermore.” (Psalm 131 ESV)

So here’s my prayer today… When I get all worked up over things that only You, Lord, can work out – things that are NOT my responsibility… Just pat my hand, assure me you’re in control, and hold me close, and whisper “Com’on trust Me!” in my ear!