Many years ago, the famed Bob Barker hosted a comedy game show called TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES. So popular was the radio show that the former Hot Springs, NM city formally changed its name in 1950 to Truth or Consequences. But none of that is the point of this article. The point we need to make is very pointed: every action has a consequence! If the action is one of TRUTH, then the consequence is one of a favorable sort and fosters no regrets. But if the action is one of errant nature, the consequences can be quite severe, even deadly.
Of the greatest danger are the errant actions of one’s soul. In this realm, our Lord said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13: 1- 5) Nonetheless, many continue to love darkness (aka. Sin) rather than light because their deeds are evil. (John 3:19) Many believe they will escape the consequences of their sins, based on a false conviction that “it’s their life and no one cares.” Friend, GOD cares, and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Yet man must realize that nothing is hidden from God’s all-seeing eyes (Hebrews 4:13). Just as Adam and Eve failed in their desire to hide from God when they sinned, (Genesis 3:8) and just as Moses warned Israel, “Be sure your sins will find you out,” (Numbers 32:23), so our sins today will be brought to a reckoning before God (2 Thessalonians 1:7 -9; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Man needs to realize GOD set the rules for our conduct in this life. He is the Potter, and we are the clay. (Romans 9: 20 – 21) He never permitted a man to determine his own rules regarding life, because “it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23) During Isaiah’s day, God warned, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (Isaiah 5: 20 – 23) Yet, as man did then, so man does today!
In the present day, sexual promiscuity is rampant. In God’s word, it is called FORNICATION. In the present day, alcoholism is an “acceptable social choice.” In God’s word, it is called DRUNKENNESS. In the present day, lying, embezzlement, extortion, and such like are “normal business practices.” In God’s word, it is called sin. (1 Corinthians 6:9 – 10) We live in a world that promotes wickedness and condemns righteousness! But dear reader, which does GOD promote, and to Whom will man answer in the last great day?
Perhaps it is a lack of fear of the consequences of sin. Jesus didn’t lie. He said regarding those who disobey Him, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment.” (Matthew 25:46) Hell is not a “mystical” place, but a place God prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). Its eternity is just as permanent as the joys prepared for those that love and obey our Lord (Matthew 25:34; 46b). As one gospel preacher was wont to say, “After you’ve been in hell ten-thousand times ten-thousand years, you’ve not a moment less to stay there than when you got there!” (Fred Dennis) Jesus described Hell as a place where the worm (maggot) does not die, a place of outer darkness, and where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mark 9:44; Matthew 25:30) Paul further describes eternal damnation as permanent separation from God (2 Thessalonians 1:7 – 9). Why would anyone desire such an eternity? Why would any soul sin and not fear the consequences?
No one is immune to sin (1 John 1: 5 – 10), yet we must not yield to it (Romans 6:16). Only the Christian has been washed from his past sins (Matthew 28:19 – 20; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 6:11; et al) and he must remain faithful unto death to receive a crown of life (Revelation 2:10; 2 Peter 1: 1 – 11).
Truth or Consequences was a game show; LIFE is not! While many in this earth life believe they simply live until they die, they need to reckon with Paul’s inspired statement that says, “Then cometh the end …” (1 Corinthians 15:24) and the fact he also said, “God hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained.” (Acts 17:31) We cannot live as we wish, doing what we wish and think there are no consequences for our words or deeds! Eternally, dear friend, we will either dwell with the Father because we loved Him and obeyed Him, or we will die eternally in Hell because we ignored His commandments and lived in sin during our journey on this earth. Why not repent, and obey Him?