Choices and consequences.
Scripture is filled with examples of people whose sinful decisions led to troubles that they did not foresee and could not avoid. They chose sin, but they were not free to choose the consequences.
The good news of the Bible is that, in Christ, we are delivered from slavery to sin and from eternal condemnation (Romans 5:9-11; 6:15-20). Christians are promised that if we confess our sins, God will forgive us (1 John 1:9). But the Lord’s promise of forgiveness is not a promise to inoculate us against all the ugliness that may result from our sinful actions.
God will forgive the sin of drug or alcohol addiction. But He does not promise to heal a body damaged by toxins or restore money wasted on a habit.
God will forgive the sins of murder or theft. But He does not promise to commute a prison sentence.
God will forgive the sin of gossip. But He does not promise to suddenly erase the bitterness and mistrust it has sown in the hearts of others.
God will forgive the sin of dishonesty. But He does not promise to shield us from the damage it may have done to a career or a reputation.
God will forgive the sins of adultery or abuse. But He does not promise that a victimized spouse or child will forgive.
God is loving and merciful. He promises to forgive our sin in Christ. He does not promise that everything in life will continue as if the sin never happened. He may spare us from the hurtful and humiliating fruits of our rebellion (and no doubt a moment’s honest reflection will bring to mind countless times He has done exactly that). But He may let us experience that bitter fruit and learn that “the way of the transgressor is hard” (Proverbs 13:15). That simply is not for us to decide. As one preacher put it, even when we are done with the sin, it may not be done with us.
The only way to avoid any of the unpleasant consequences of this sin or that one is … to avoid the sin. Choose your actions carefully.
And when we have sinned and consequences follow, how will we respond? In bitterness and anger? Or in humility and faith?
King David committed adultery (and piled on more sin trying to cover it up). God forgave his sin, but also made it clear that there still would be repercussions (2 Samuel 12:9-14). One promised result was that evil would rise against David from his own family. And so it was: his own son led a revolt against him. As the king fled Jerusalem, he said, “If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me back … But if He says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let Him do to me what seems good to Him” (2 Samuel 15:25-26). David recognized that, even though he had been forgiven, he still must face consequences to what he had done. And he was willing to accept them. While he hoped that the Lord would mercifully restore him to Jerusalem, David knew he was in no position to demand that God do so, nor to accuse Him of unfairness if He did not.
Proverbs 19:3 warns of the man whose “heart rages against the Lord” when his “own folly brings him to ruin.” David might have done that. He might have blamed God for letting him face the consequences of his own sin. He might have turned sour, resentful, hardened against the Lord. But he chose differently. His experience of God’s grace in forgiveness made him confident in God’s grace to see him through whatever the future might bring, whether it was the future David would have chosen or not.
Whenever our own folly brings the sting of unpleasant consequences, we can do the same. Choose repentance. Choose humility. Choose faith. Choose grace. (Jeff Himmel, plant city Church of Christ)
I agree. The reality of choices and their inevitable consequences is a fundamental theme throughout Scripture. While individuals are free to choose their actions, they are not free to dictate the outcomes of those choices. This principle is evident in both biblical narratives and everyday life. Sin, by its very nature, carries consequences that extend beyond the immediate moment of transgression, often reaching into relationships, reputations, and even physical well-being.
The Bible provides numerous examples of individuals who suffered unforeseen consequences due to their sinful actions. Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God resulted in exile from Eden and the introduction of death and suffering into the world (Genesis 3). King Saul’s impatience and disobedience led to the loss of his kingdom (1 Samuel 13:13-14). David’s sins of adultery and murder set off a chain reaction of family turmoil and national instability (2 Samuel 12:9-14). These examples highlight an enduring truth: though sin can be committed in a moment, its effects often linger far beyond that moment.
However, Scripture also offers the redemptive message that, in Christ, believers are freed from the ultimate consequence of sin—eternal condemnation (Romans 5:9-11). God’s forgiveness is full and complete, as promised in 1 John 1:9, but it does not erase all earthly consequences. This distinction is crucial. A person may be forgiven of dishonesty, yet still lose the trust of others. A recovering addict may be redeemed spiritually, yet still face the lasting effects of physical damage. An unfaithful spouse may repent sincerely, yet still find that their marriage has been irreparably harmed. These realities do not undermine the power of God’s forgiveness; rather, they affirm the moral order He has established in creation—actions have repercussions.
David’s response to his own suffering offers a powerful model for how believers should react when they face the consequences of their sins. Rather than growing bitter or blaming God, David humbly submitted to God’s will, trusting in His justice and mercy (2 Samuel 15:25-26). This stands in stark contrast to the warning in Proverbs 19:3 about those who rage against the Lord when their own folly leads to suffering. The difference between these two responses is the difference between faith and rebellion, between humility and defiance.
When consequences arise, believers have a choice: to respond with resentment or with repentance. The latter path leads to growth, wisdom, and deeper dependence on God. As the passage concludes, choosing wisely from the beginning is the surest way to avoid painful consequences. But when failure occurs, as it inevitably will in human life, the faithful response is not despair or anger but submission to God’s refining process. Choosing repentance, humility, and faith in the face of consequences is itself an act of trust—an acknowledgment that even in discipline, God is working for our ultimate good (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Ultimately, this perspective transforms how we view suffering. Instead of seeing consequences as merely punitive, we can recognize them as opportunities for sanctification. Like David, we can rest in the assurance that, while we cannot undo the past, we can trust God with the future. Eric