RUN LIKE A CHAMPION

A teen girl gets pregnant. A friend is killed in a drinking binge. A pastor loses his ministry because of immorality. Can these things be forgiven? The answer is absolutely and unequivocally yes. God is a God of grace and mercy. He forgives the worst of sins, as well as the least. But we must never forget that every sin has consequences. God has warned us, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Sin is awful. It robs us of our intimacy with God, places undue stress on our hearts, and limits our usefulness in God’s kingdom. Yet we live in a time when we have forgotten sin’s consequences. The attitude of our era seems to be, “If it feels good, do it.” The only problem is that many things may look good, even feel good and taste good … but in the end, they bring pain, defeat, and death.
Before David was confronted with his sin, he may never have suspected he would face the severe consequences. But Nathan, the prophet of God, shattered David’s illusion: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight … But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die’” (2 Samuel 12:11, 14).
God brought to pass the words of the prophet. David’s sin cost him his family, his integrity, and ultimately the life of his son. Needlessly, David walked through the deep waters of pain and suffering. Had David understood the consequences of his sin with Bathsheba, he may have made different choices.
Perhaps we need to develop a deep conviction in our hearts about the consequences of sin. That conviction needs to be burned so deeply into our hearts, it’s a constant reminder of God’s holiness — and our helplessness. It ought to move us to continued and absolute dependence on Him. We must never forget we’re only one choice away from catastrophe.
Sin is a very dangerous thing. Sin hurts. Sin kills. Sin will destroy a marriage. It will devastate a ministry. It will play havoc in our personal lives.
Yes, God forgives. By His grace He is able to remove the guilt, pick us up, and get us back on the right track. It’s never too late for that. But we must never forget the horrible sting of sin. That’s why we must live and walk daily in absolute dependence on God. For sin’s consequences are deadly.