Articles
Actions Have Consequences
There is perhaps no greater ethical truth than that which finds root in the old adage: actions have consequences. Every human failure and subsequent result may be boiled down into those three little words. Sir Isaac Newton even implemented the maxim into the field of physics when he acknowledged his third law of motion which states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
But this principle is not exclusive to ethical theory or physics. It’s not just a hypothetical potential that is important to keep in mind. The truth may be applied to, and verified by, most every sin in the Bible. Old Testament, New Testament, Jew, Gentile, it really doesn’t matter. Actions have consequences and those consequences can be deadly. Unlike with Newton, human action is often followed by a reaction of exponential power. Recognizing this principle in theory is of value, but what about in practice? What does this actually translate into? Let’s take a look:
1) Adam and Eve performed a very slight action by partaking in the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The action was minuscule and took less than a few seconds to perform. The reaction was profound. Because of this indiscretion, all men became subject to death (Romans 5).
2) In Genesis 16, Sarah convinced Abraham to sleep with Hagar in order to bring forth a son. Rather than depend on God’s providential power, she took matters into her own hands. As a result, Ishmael was born and so were the Arab nations, the future violent enemy of Israel.
3) In Genesis 35:21-26, Reuben cohabits with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. As a result, he is excluded from the right of the firstborn (49:3f; 1Chron. 5:1). His self-imposed inferior position causes his family to neglect his advice on several occasions (Gen. 37:21f; 42:37f; 43:11-14).
4) David’s adultery with Bathsheba resulted in the death of the child, Absalom’s rebellion, and contributed to the divided kingdom after the time of Solomon. Although he was thoroughly penitent and was forgiven, his sins still brought consequences (2 Samuel 12:1ff).
Sin is consequential even after forgiveness is obtained. Our actions will result in reactions that are often beyond what we might first suspect. Keeping this in mind may just allow us to more comprehend sin’s power and the superior power of God’s grace to deliver us from its clutch.
