Facing the Consequences

Facing the Consequences

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to face God after we’ve sinned? We are so afraid of how He will look upon us, that we tend to shy away from Him. It’s kind of like getting caught doing something wrong when we were kids. We couldn’t seem to look our Mom or Dad in the eyes. We just knew that their disapproval of us would shame us into oblivion. I think that the same feelings hold true with our relationship with God. We’re afraid of the discipline to come, and falling into disfavor with Him. Instead of going to Him, we, instead, run away from Him to avoid His eyes and his displeasure with us.

It seems that our view of God is skewed, in that, if we read His word, He does not want us to run from Him. In Luke chapter 15, Christ tells the three “lost” parables, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. In each of these parables something is lost or has run away. The owner, or father desires it’s return fervently, and rejoices when it is found.

We can compare ourselves, as sinners, most with the lost son, ashamed, beaten down by circumstances (which we probably placed ourselves in), afraid to even show our face until we have no other place to go. The son finally deciding that he had no other place to turn, returned to his father, knowing that he would be chastised and disciplined for his actions. We know that feeling all too well. It’s called “facing the consequences.” That’s what makes it so hard to return to God. We KNOW that we were wrong and deserve His hatred and His anger.

Funny thing is, He shows us just how much better He is than we could even imagine. Just like the father in the story, He doesn’t give us what we deserve. The father didn’t first have a sit down meeting with his son to discuss the conditions of his return or to chastise him for all of the wrong that he had done. NO! He ran to his son and welcomed him with no conditions. He had a great celebration, because his son had seen that he was wrong and returned to him.

That is our God. His arms are open wide, just waiting to embrace us and tell us that He loves us and wants us with Him. He wants to take us in and feed us and keep us from the harm that we have allowed in our lives by turning from Him. He is our only hope in defeating the sin in our lives. We cannot, as we prove to ourselves time and again, defeat Satan on our own. Satan can only win in your life if you turn your back on the One that loves you more than anything. The more you turn from God, the more you turn toward Satan. If you will just turn your eyes to God and tell Him that , “yes, I have done wrong,” He will take you and restore you in a heartbeat. He is the only one who can defeat Satan in your life.

Should you be ashamed? Should you feel that God disapproves of the sin in your life? Should we feel unworthy? The answer is YES! Should this keep us from Him? He says, “No!” He wants you to turn to Him and to trust Him. Let Him have His way with you. Give Him the opportunity to rejoice at your return. The consequences of that are His love.

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate. Luke 15:24