Believers, Christ-followers, are responsible for our thoughts, words, and deeds. Our sins are our doing.
Our actions, righteous or sinful, have results. Consequences of sinful acts can be life-long, and they can be horrible.
There are at least three lessons:
First, strive to live a righteous life. God is working in every believer to sin less, to make us more holy. When we do sin, and we will, confess immediately. Take the steps needed to resolve the impact of our sins, including reconciling if possible.
Second, remember that God is sovereign. Trust God throughout the consequences of our sins. He controls the length, breath, and severity of the results of our actions. It truly may be awful, but remember that God is with you, with me, helping us to walk through whatever it is in a way that pleases and glorifies God.
Third, thank and praise God. Thank Him that there are consequences of sin, helping us learn to refuse sin and obey Him. Thank Him that He is working in you (and me) and in the situation right now. Thank Him that He is sovereign. He won’t leave you or forsake you. He is teaching you, teaching me, something we need to know. If your long-term life situation changed, thank Him that He repositioned you to a new area of service.
And, finally:
Believer: whoever you are and where-ever you are, you are in God’s holy plan. He has, now and always, a purpose for you. He is leading you to glory. PRESS ON!
PS. WE are responsible. GOD is sovereign. It is impossible for us to understand that both things are true, but they are. We “just” need to believe what God says in His word.
