The Consequences Of Our Sins

My Utmost For His Highest

 

He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38

 

‘A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.’ CHAMBERS

 

Do you have a lot of friends?  What is it that attracts them to you? Your personality, your possessions, or your prominence.  Or perhaps it is the fragrance of Christ … the love you show towards people that springs from the love that God has shown toward you.  The grace and mercy that you extend to people that springs from the grace and mercy that God has shown towards you.   The rivers of eternal waters have eternal consequences.  The source of the river is the power and presence of God in us.

 

There is an antithesis (love that word for some reason) to those rivers … the effects or consequences of sins of the fathers (parents) ripple through families for 3 or 4 generations.

 

For some time, people are making excuses for the crimes they committed saying they are a “product of their environment”.  On the opposite side, the parents want to believe that what they did .. the decisions they made … the sins they committed …. did no harm to anyone but themselves … blame and denial.  We are forgiven our sins but not necessarily excused from the consequences of those sins.  Once, I told my mom about the effects of sin on following generations one time and she became very angry with me.  I didn’t see that coming.  You see, she did want to think that her sins (we all have them) could affect her children and beyond. She certainly did not want that to be true.   But it is, nonetheless.  It is a Biblical truth and will stand for eternity, like it or not.

 

At the core of this issue is sin.  The simple solution is Jesus.  People talk about the positive example that I have been to others .. influencing how they live their lives.  (Wish I could take the credit for it .. but it is Jesus not me) But the principle is that what I do influences people.  What you do also influences people too.  Good or bad. Matthew 12:34  “…For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.”  Not only does what we say reflect our heart …. But what we do .. how we treat people …  My encouragement to you … let the living waters flow …. If you are going to influence someone, and you are, let it be with your new nature, not your old one. ELGIN

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)