Consequences And Solutions –
Consequences are a universal constant. Everything we do in life always and without fail will have consequences. Fortunately, we do have some choices in the matter.
Where darkness is concerned, we have multiple choices. First, we can be children of the darkness or children of light. In other words, we can choose salvation or not. Without Jesus, the consequence is that we’re lost.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
With Jesus, our consequence is salvation. However, we do not have the freedom to sin. Jesus died to remove the bondage of sin, and we can choose not to sin.
Again, we are faced with another choice and another set of consequences.
We can choose to walk by faith and be led by the Spirit or not. Obedience has its rewards, but even with salvation there are consequences to choosing to walk in darkness. When we walk in darkness – call it sin, lusts, the flesh – we miss the blessings that God has for us. We miss the mark because we are off course. Sin – including fear as in faithlessness, lying to ourselves, or otherwise – holds us back, and prevents us from succeeding.
Spiritual battles are common. We all fight them. Some fight more effectively than others. Some face tougher battles. Here are a few of the scriptures that I stand on to help me get through tough times.
When I want to check my motives, I remember James 4:2-3.
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
James 4:2-3
When things REALLY don’t go my way, I remember, “ALL THINGS.”
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
When I have a really challenging – otherwise known as a frustrating or bad day – I remember Psalm 118:24.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
When I am fearful or when I think that perhaps I am making excuses instead of believing God, I remember 2 Timothy 1:7 because fear is not of the Lord.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
LIFE APPLICATION
I encourage you to use these verses or figure out what verses from God’s Word will help you each day. Write them down. Keep them with you. Memorize them. Remember them when you need strength or encouragement.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4
As you live by God’s Word and stand in faith, your faith will increase. You also may find it helpful to keep a journal of the times that you saw God’s faithfulness in your life.
Your Big Challenge
Before we were saved, we walked in darkness. As Christians, we have Jesus – the light of the world. We no longer have the chains of sin holding us. We, with the power of the Holy Spirit, can choose to walk in the light.
When we believe lies or let fear control us, we are lacking in faith. In a way, we are walking in darkness. We need to recognize the sin of unbelief as it applies to us and ask Jesus, as the apostles did, to increase our faith. We all need more faith.
We need to challenge ourselves each day to walk by faith and respond to the things in our lives accordingly. We need to realize that how we respond has consequences, and one of those consequences is Proverbs 23:7. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he . . .”