Is Sin Really a Big Deal? Part 2: Sin’s Consequences

Background Passage: Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14
Today’s Focal Passage: Genesis 3:16-19, 24

16 He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you. 17 And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it': The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust." 24 He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden He stationed cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.

I Don’t Want To Deal With That

When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, their first instinct was to run and hide. They said it was because they knew they were naked. Their eyes had been opened. They were sinners now and they knew it. They were ashamed so they hid. Maybe it was in part because they knew they had let God down. Maybe it was in part because they knew there would be consequences for their disobedience and they didn’t want to face Him.

Reliant K sings,
And I so hate consequences
And running from you is what my best defense is

Consequences, 
Oh God, don't make me face up to this

Cause I know that I let you down, 
And I don't want to deal with that

What do we do when we’re confronted with our own sin? Do we run and hide? Why? Do we try to come up with excuses or alibis? Do we hate our sin or just the trouble it gets us into? God eventually found Adam and Eve. He finds us too. We’re never far from reach and no matter how much we loathe them, consequences are a reality when it comes to sin. If we know this, then why not respond to our sin in ways we know to be healthy. Rather than run, we should confess. Rather than hide, we should admit our mistake and accept the consequences that accompany our actions. After all, consequences are a good thing. They serve as the lessons and reminders not to make the same mistakes again and again.

What have been the consequences of sin in your life? How have you accepted those and learned from your own mistakes?