To be fully HUMAN — A Daily Reflection

 

 

2 Samuel 12 NIV

Psalm 51 NIV

 

David had finally recognized his sin for what it was – rebellion against God.  And when he begged for mercy, God forgave him.  But God did not remove the natural consequences of David’s sin.  Other people got hurt.  Uriah was murdered.  The baby died.  And although God forgot David’s sin in His forgiveness, David had to live with the knowledge of what he had done for the rest of his life.

 

God does forgive sin – if we acknowledge it, if we are truly sorry, and if we ask for forgiveness.  But He does not remove the consequences of that sin.  A number of years ago, I knew a man who met Jesus at about the age of 40.  He had led a terrible life, doing all manner of things that were not only sinful, but illegal.  The list was almost endless.  When this man came to Christ, he was exuberant in the freedom of God’s forgiveness.  But in the midst of his euphoria of freedom from sin, he also acknowledged that the things he had done had harmed a long list of people and had broken a large number of laws.  It would have been very easy for him to keep silent, to enjoy his freedom from everything – both his sin AND the consequences.  But this man felt convicted that he had to do the right thing – all the way.  So, one at a time, he went to the people against whom he had sinned and confessed what he had done, asking for forgiveness.  Some of the consequences were good, because a few of his broken relationships were restored.  Some of the consequences were bad, because he ended up not only having to pay back some people he had cheated, but he also ended up serving time in jail.  However, this man was so excited about God’s forgiveness through Jesus, he suffered the consequences of his sin with joy.  What he had to suffer at the hands of man was a mere pinprick compared to what he would have suffered at the hands of God!

 

No matter what you’ve done, God will forgive you if you acknowledge your sin, acknowledge your guilt, and ask for mercy.  And He will forget that sin at the very moment He forgives it, removing it as far from you as east is from west.  But God does not remove the natural consequences of our sins, so prepare yourself to accept the consequences.  And remember, what you’re going through now as a result of your sin is a mere pinprick compared to what you would have suffered if God’s desire was not so focused on forgiving you for what you’ve done.