02.15.08

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries. - 2 Peter 2: 4-10.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. - Proverbs 1:7.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23.

In Rochester, Pennsylvania it must have been almost an unbelievable scene. A female bartender did the responsible thing refusing to serve an intoxicated woman who was seven months pregnant another drink and she also told the pregnant woman that she shouldn’t be drinking alcohol. Someone needed to say it and the bartender did. Keisharra Abercrombie who is thirty years old did not take it well. She attacked and broke a glass over the bartender’s head which tore her ear. It took nearly 30 stitches and a couple of staples for the top portion of the ear to be reattached. Keisharra ended up in jail with a $25,000 bail charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and reckless endangerment.

With the behavior of Keisharra we can see some immediate consequences for her behavior. She has lost her freedom and may have to give up that freedom for a few years if she is sentenced to prison. There will be longer term consequences as she may not be able to have custody of her child and knowing of Keisharra’s abuse of alcohol leads to concern for the health of the child she is carrying. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a real possibility for the child which will affect the child for all of its life. It will also be a burden upon the heart of the mother for the rest of her life. There are very real consequences for irresponsible behavior. A moment of rage can cause a lifetime of problems.

There are also spiritual consequences for behaving badly. If a person is actively and knowingly involved in sinful activities there are consequences. God will not bless that person’s life. God will allow the natural consequences of those sinful actions to occur.

If you are in a downward spiral, and you want to stop, how do you turn around? Solomon tells us in Proverbs that the beginning of wisdom is "fear of the Lord." Irreverence is epidemic across the United States and much of that irreverence is directed toward God. Many movies, television shows, comics, and others market themselves by claiming proudly to be "irreverent." You can begin to stop the downward spiral by getting rid of the irreverence. Instead of being disrespectful toward God, begin to give Him respect, honor, and glory. Acknowledge that you have knowingly acted in ways that He did not approve. Ask Him to help you to change and to move your life in the opposite direction of where it has been headed. Ask Him to bless your life as you begin to live for Him.

The great news is that God loves you and wants to bless your life. Jesus came that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Allow God to bless you and give you life. Instead of fighting against Him become His friend. Imagine how much better your life will be when God is blessing instead of opposing all that you do.