The consequences of sin...one of the hardest things about life. You have humbly repented with all your heart and you know that God has forgiven you because you read about it in Scripture and feel the peace that only His forgiveness can bring. BUT...(and this is a big but) you still have to live with and deal with the consequences of your sin. Not only do you have to deal with them, but so do those that are the closest to you because your sin will undoubtedly affect them as well. Sometimes the effects of sin can last for years and be VERY, VERY painful, even if you were the one that did not commit the sin. The good news is that Jesus will be with you throughout all of it even though we do not deserve it.This is where David finds himself today. This whole set of events reads like a well written soap opera. David has just lost his precious baby son that was an innocent victim to his sin. Now he finds himself confronted by the rebellion and horrible sins of his own two sons, Amnon and Absalom. This is the beginning of what Nathan said in Chapter 12 verse 11, which says, "Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house." Sin has a way of "snow-balling" down a steep hill and running out of control.
SNOWBALL #1: Enter Amnon and his horrific actions against his half sister Tamar. This whole sequence of events is the worst of human lust and selfishness at its highest. The life of an innocent woman is ruined. Now that she is no longer a virgin, she is not going to be able to ever be married and bear children as the laws and customs demanded. She will live a life of loneliness and an empty womb all because of something done TO her that she had not control over. All because of the sin of someone else. 
SNOWBALL #2: Because of what Amnon has done to Tamar, Absalom seethes with anger and eventually plays out this anger by murdering his brother. This begins a snowball of Absalom's sin, which will eventually end in his own death. And so, Absalom flees to Geshur. Meanwhile, David remains aloof and passive in reacting to any of this sin and the snowball continues to get bigger as it rushes down the hill.
SNOWBALL #3: Absalom eventually returns to his father in Jerusalem, but the relationship is forever severed by sin and will never be the same again. The tension between David and Absalom will never go away and Absalom hates his father.
SNOWBALL #4: Absalom is eaten up with hatred and jealousy toward his father, and out of this hatred is born a conspiracy...a conspiracy to overtake David's throne. And so a web of deception and betrayal is woven together by Absalom and David is forced to flee from Jerusalem.
The snowball is now huge as it has taken four turns of gigantic proportions. Do you see how one sin by one person...a momentary weakness by David, has now grown into this HUGE mess? I have seen this same "snowball effect" happen in my own life over and over and over again. I hammered the nails to Jesus on the cross! All of the horrible sins I have committed are what put Him on that cross! Yet, He loved me so much that He endured the unfathomable pain and incomprehensible weight of ALL of the sins for ALL time so that I could spend eternity with Him in heaven. WOW...as we await the rising of our Savior tomorrow morning, join me in a continuous thanksgiving for His amazing love!!!
"Amazing love, how can this be, that you My King would die for me? Amazing love, I know it's true, and it's my joy to honor you in all I do!"
Mindy, your post was heart-felt! We don't even deserve what Jesus did for all of us, but He did it anyways. A free and unselfish gift which would give us redemption and forgiveness for our sinful nature. As we get ready for Easter service, let us remember the main reason we celebrate Easter. It is to celebrate a risen Savior who did endure tremendous pain and suffering for the world. The beautiful dresses & cute suits and ties, Easter eggs, and egg hunts are all well and good, but as Mindy said "let's give thanksgiving for His amazing love."
ReplyDeleteMindy, what a beautiful post. And I loved your "snowball" effects (and pictures) Wow - you are so right. Sin has a way of affecting us for a long, long time. What is that saying - "sin takes you where you do not want to go, keeps you longer than you want to stay, and costs more than you are willing to pay." (Not sure I have that exact quote, but you get the picture.)
ReplyDeleteIsn't this just the most appropriate scripture and reminder that we read today for tomorrow's Easter day! The sins that we have committed have been "nailed to the cross" Praise to the Lord.
I think my heart breaks most when something painful could have been prevented. I find myself trying to avoid pain at every opportunity....but I was recently reminded that sometimes pain brings about a much needed change.
ReplyDeleteI am all so willing to wear the crown of victory with the Lord, but run from the crown of thorns. Thank you to Pastor Chris, for sharing this thought with our church family recently....it has given me much to reflect on.
We all like sheep have gone astray...
ReplyDeleteWhen Aaron did his study on the life of David, he called the first study "uncomplicated" and the second one "complicated". As David's example so brilliantly shows us, sin invariably complicates our life. Mindy said it, and I've felt it's consequences myself. Why do we continue to think then, that we know better? That going our own way will bring us happiness? God's laws and words are to give us the BEST version of our lives we could have- not hold us back from fun. If only I could hammer it through my thick skull!
I love the freedom of a clear conscience. I believe that God uses our trials to teach and strengthen us, but how much more can He use us for His work when we have clear consciences?
ReplyDeleteI noticed the quick turn of Amnon's feelings towards Tamar. In a matter of seconds, his "love" turned to hatred. I wonder if he was really hating himself for his actions. That must have been a bad conscience day.
And David did not punish Amnon. We know that hee had recently sinned in this area and was probably feeling that he was not in much of a position to punish someone for something he had just done.
I pray that God will quickly bring to my mind things that I have done to wrong another and that I can immediately seek forgiveness.