Choices & Consequences

In times of my self-reflections or self-evaluations, and as I look at the path I took (I mean the choices and decisions I made), I see that my choices have its own consequences or effect or say end-result. But sometimes, whenever we make decisions, we don’t often see its effect or consequences. I believe we all know this. Some consequences are positive, and some are negative.

In God’s Word we definitely could find many examples, from the very beginning of everything and from the very beginning of man. Man, with his own will decided to disobey and therefore had to face the consequences.

The consequences of our own doing or of our own decisions, we can never runaway from. The only thing that could be done is face it and accept it as it is. I remember David and his most dreadful decision in his life. He sinned against God and therefore must face the consequence God has laid upon him (Read 2 Samuel 12). David’s response on the matter is quite unbelievable.

2 Samuel 12:15 - 20
15And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
19But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

Whether we face an itty bitty decision or a big one, we should make consideration of its consequences, especially if sin could be part of it. But sometimes, we too are deceived by what we see. Let’s just take an example on what happened between Abraham and Lot. Lot was given a choice to make, and he decided to follow what he thinks is best.

Genesis 13:10-13

10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Lot may have had chosen the best land, but he had to face the consequences of his choice. He lived on a place where evil men dwell, his daughters never knew a man to be married with, his wife became a pillar of salt, and his daughters bore sons with their own father (Read Genesis 19).

Choices and consequences! We all should be careful of it. For as much as I know, God’s will is always the best and if you want His will, you must know Him as He is. And no matter what, the right response is most commended.

Now perhaps the question I would like to leave out is “How do we respond to the choices and consequences we already are faced with?” I hope we could respond same way David did. He worshiped the Lord.