Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
When we repent and get saved, then we are forgiven of all our sin. Acts
3:19 says, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your
sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall
come from the presence of the Lord.” 1 John 1:7 says, “But if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin.” Psalms 103:12 says, “As far as
the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions
from us.”
Being "forgiven" of our sins, and suffering the "consequences" of our
sins, are two different things. A person can be forgiven of the sin of
smoking, but still may suffer the consequences of that sin—lung cancer.
A person can be forgiven of the sin of sodomy, but may still suffer a
consequence of it—HIV or AIDS. The person who drinks alcohol can be
forgiven of that sin, but may still suffer the consequences of it—liver
disease.
The consequences of our sin may be relatively unknown to others, but
evident to us in our personal lives—or the consequences may be
well-known, as the examples given in the previous paragraph.
Consider the consequences that Paul faced because of his sin. Acts
9:10-16 says, “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named
Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said,
Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go
into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of
Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And
hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his
hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias
answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath
done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath
authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto
me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer
for my name's sake.”
Paul did greatly suffer in his life
and ministry. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 says, “Are they ministers of
Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in
stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the
Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once
was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck,
a night and a day I have been in the deep; In
journeyings often, in perils of
waters, in perils of robbers, in
perils by mine own countrymen, in
perils by the heathen, in perils in the city,
in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren; In weariness and painfulness,
in watchings often, in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily,
the care of all the churches.” There were no doubt many times in Paul’s
life that he wished he would have never persecuted God’s people so much
in his life before he got saved.
Paul also discovered something else in life—that God’s grace is
wonderfully sufficient. 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 says, “It is not
expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and
revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years
ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I
cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I
cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise,
and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to
utter. Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory,
but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall
not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man
should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he
heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the
flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted
above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it
might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
We cannot erase the consequences of our past sin, but
when we start, right now, doing the
right things, then we are sowing good seeds which are also going to come
up in our lives. So we can get to the point where we are reaping more
good things in our lives, than bad things, because we are now sowing
more good seeds, than bad seeds. That is a great
incentive to be constantly and faithfully serving the Lord. Psalms
115:13 says, “He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and
great.” Because of this, Paul testified, “Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
