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 Last
Spring, when I did my student teaching at San Marcos High
School, I noticed a common attitude among the students. It
seemed that many of them did not want to take the responsibility
for their actions — especially if those actions led to
unpleasant consequences. I was reminded of Paul's words in
Galatians 6:7, "...for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap." I tried, during the few weeks that remained,
to get my students to apply this principle to more than just
their grades. It was not uncommon to hear, in most of my
classes, "You can either enjoy the consequences of
your actions or suffer the consequences of your actions:
the choice is up to you."
Most
people realize, to some extent, that certain actions will yield
certain consequences or results. The student knows that unless
he spends some time studying, he will not reap a passing grade
in the class. The athlete knows that diligent practice will
yield better abilities. The farmer knows that a field planted
with wheat always yields a crop of wheat. What we shall reap is
determined by what seeds we have chosen to sow. Yet, while we
are aware of this principle, we do not always apply it.
We
can easily see the application of this principle in the physical
realm (as in the examples of the student, athlete, and farmer),
but there seems to be some hesitancy to make the application in
the spiritual aspects of life. Too often, we either fail
to realize or we refuse to recognize the consequences of
our actions in the spiritual realm.
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The
foolish virgins chose to take only a small amount of oil for
their lamps. They failed to realize the consequences of their
short-sightedness until it was too late (Matt. 25:1-f). In Luke
16:19-f, we read of a man who made the choice to serve himself
rather than God and others. The result — "the rich man
also died, and was buried; and in Hades he lifted up his eyes,
being in torments..." Many are ignorant of God's spiritual
laws, but that does not excuse them from the consequences of
their sins.
There
are also those who refuse to listen to God's laws. A
person may know that certain actions will lead to his spiritual
ruin; yet, he does not want to give up those actions. So he
makes the choice to ignore God's will and continue in his sin.
"But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder,
and stopped their ears, that they should not hear... therefore
came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts" (Zech. 7:11,
12). When we choose to sin, whether in ignorance or rebellion,
we will suffer the consequences of our sin.
God
has set forth certain laws in both the physical and spiritual
aspects of life. These laws are in existence for our benefit,
but we are not forced to comply with them. God has given us a
free will; and, as creatures of choice, we can choose to follow
or disregard these laws. But remember — we will either enjoy
the consequences or suffer the consequences of our
actions because "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he
also reap." The choice is up to you.
Kevan O'Banion
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