Consequences

That word just strikes fear into the hearts of us who have spent a whole lot of time on the wrong side of right. Many of us are still paying for the past in a multitude of ways and we see all around us how even simple words can take a great man or woman down if uttered falsely or in what they believed as truth. Remember the couple in the Bible who sold their field but lied about how much it sold for? Think of how even doing right (Jesus) caused a controversy that led to a crucifixion.
 
Consequences aren't always bad, but it just seems that way. Like aging, we all do but as we do things start breaking down because of that process. For the past month or so some kind of a pinched nerve or spinal malfunction has caused my left foot to experience numbness. So we took X-Rays on my last trip to ATL and the doctor who looked them over said I had severe degeneration and needed an Orthpedic appointment. Me, being an eternal optimist spent time speaking with my chiropractor today who suggested that all of us past a certain age are degenerating. Which of course gave me today's topic.
 
I have done things on the wrong side of life that have cost me dearly, and presently, in a more enlightened state, I watch as really good people are bent on self destruction. That conversation made me think of how God, in his infinite wisdom knows that our lives sometimes degenerate, and as optimistic as we all are, we believe we can find our way out. But sometimes there really is no way out and the consequence is death or incarceration (internally or externally). Our consequence is that we are trapped by our own decisions and no one on earth can help us out. That is, of course, no one on earth.
 
But when we surrender the situation, whatever it might be, to an almighty God who knows the way out, we find freedom, we find that consequences we deserve often don't happen the way they should. Like a divine chiropractor he makes an adjustment on us (hoping mine turns out the same way). How many times have we been saved by His grace and His love from what we should have suffered? Surrender doesn't always guarantee there will be no penalty, but it does guarantee we don't pay the ultimate penalty.
 
So the words "think before you act" should always be a part of our daily repetoire. Won't stop the aging process, or stop consequences for what good you believe in, but it will prevent us from suffering for bad decisions.
 
Now, for that adjustment...................
 
Glenn