Choices and Their Consequences

James H. Cagle

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me” (Ps. 3: 1).

Choices have consequences. All choices have consequences. We’re free to make our own choices but not free to choose their consequences. We don’t meet up with the consequences of our choices until they’re full grown. Past choices have future consequences that eventually become  present. Consequences are the built-in judgment of our choices. Bad sinful choices will naturally bring bad hurtful consequences. Good honorable choices will naturally bring good and honorable consequences.

The younger generation make choices without any thought of the consequences their choices will bring. But they eventually learn that what they sow they’ll reap. They eventually get older and wiser and start making their choices based on the consequences they’ll bring. In this way they’re making for themselves a better future by making better choices.

King David made some bad sinful choices when he chose to commit adultery with Bathsheba and then to cover her pregnancy by him had her husband Uriah murdered. II Samuel 11.

When David repented of his sins under the preaching of Nathan the prophet God forgave him. David’s sins were removed but not the consequences of his sins. “The sword” God said, “shall not depart from thine house” (II Sam. 12: 10). Had David not repented of his sins, God would have killed him. II Samuel 12: 13.

The consequences for David’s sins began immediately. The baby that Bathsheba was carrying died(II Samuel 12: 18), a few years later David’s daughter Tamar was raped by her half brother Amnon, who was then murdered by Tamar’s full brother Absalom. Absalom then fled to Geshur and stayed with his maternal grandfather for three years (II Samuel 13). Absalom later returned to Israel and began to usurp himself over his father David and eventually went after David to take his life (II Samuel 14-17), while stealing David’s wives and violating them publicly (II Samuel 16: 22).

Psalm three is written by King David when he is facing Absalom and his army in battle (II Samuel 18). David is facing the consequences of his sins. David prays and God helps him so that the consequences of his past and yet forgiven sins do not defeat and destroy him.

When we sin, we can repent and receive God’s forgiveness. God will not remove the consequences that our sins have set in motion, but He will, as he was with David, be there to help us make it through those consequences.


Dealing with Consequences
Consequences are created,
By the choices that we make.
Our choices soon bear fruit,-
The consequences we must take.
Have you made a bad choice,
And had to face the consequences?
Did you have to face them all alone,
Or with the Lord in full confidence?
Consequences are the built-in judgments
Of the bad choices we made.
Or they are the built-in blessings
Of the good choices we made.
Consequences are germinated,
And through lust sin is conceived.
Sin when it is finished,
Death, the sinner will receive.
When sinful choices are made
And we repent of our sin,
God is faithful to forgive us,
But the consequences are locked-in.
God’s promised not to forsake us,
And to never leave us alone.
Even when we face the consequences,
Of sin, we’re sure to meet head-on.
God will be there to help us,
Though we alone must bear the blame.
For we brought this pain upon ourselves,
Though our sinful past we overcame.
Yes, we must face the consequences,
But with God’s grace we’ll make it through.
That which came around to make us fall,
By God’s help we overthrew.
Do not face your consequences,
And say you deserve what you get.
Though it’s true, God is merciful,
He forgives and helps us to forget.
James H. Cagle

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