Don't Count on It All Being All Right in the End

I had a (friendly) argument recently with another Christian about forgiveness. I was claiming that when God forgives, it is as though the incident had never happened, and to prove my point, I referred her to Psalm 103:12. She countered by pointing out that God is omniscient. He forgives, but he can never forget.

In retrospect, I think we were both right, and that the problem comes with thinking of God in purely human terms. What is clear, though, is that our sins can have consequences and that although God forgives us when we repent, he doesn't always take away the consequences. The life of David after his sin with Bathsheba illustrates this abundantly. (See 2 Samuel 12:13 and the rest of the book.)

God meant what he said. There would be exile for Israel and for Judah. They would lose their land, their crops, and their Temple. In Babylon, the remnant would learn that God was still with them. He was not in their land or their Temple. He was with his people. Even in exile.

You reap what you sow, Paul said to the Galatians. "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8). God treats us as responsible adults. Sometimes we would rather be babies.

His ultimate purpose for us is to transform us into the image of Christ. Trials are where we learn, just as the Israelites did in the wilderness.

Respond in Prayer

Father God, thank you for your unfailing love for us and your constant presence with us, even when we fail you. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to us. And help us, in whatever we may be going through, to trust in your ultimate plans to transform us into his likeness. For his sake, Amen.

Annabel Robinson