Punishment and Consequences!

Hello Guys and Gals!

I am writing this today because so many people think that these words are synonymous with each other. They are not! They are entirely different words.

PUNISHMENT:
1. the act of punishing.
2. the fact of being punished, as for an offense or fault.
3. a penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc.
4. severe handling or treatment.

CONSEQUENCE:
1. the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier: The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.
2. an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.
3. the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning; inference.
4. importance or significance: a matter of no consequence.
5. importance in rank or position; distinction: a man of great consequence in art.

Look closely at these two definitions. They are not the same. Punishment is an act of inflicting something upon someone for an offense. Consequences are something that will happen after someone does something that causes the consequence to come about.

When we sin against God, we are guilty of violating His Law and as such we are then susceptible to be punished under His Law! Yet when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we are forgiven our transgressions under His Law because Jesus has already been punished by God for our transgressions. He took our punishment and gave us His righteousness.

But that does not negate the consequences of the sin wherein we transgressed. In my own life, I have sinned against God many times. Under His Law, I am guilty and susceptible to be punished. Yet I have accepted Jesus Christ into my life. For this reason I have been seen in God's eyes not as guilty but righteous. However, the consequences of my sins are still in my life!

For example, take my former drug addiction to methamphetamine. I have been forgiven and will not suffer the punishment of this sin. However, I do suffer the consequences of having done this sin.

If one were to break the law, say using methamphetamine, and then be arrested for it by the authorities. They are then tried and sentenced as a part of the consequences. Now this is punishment under the national laws of the land. But it is a consequence of the user's actions in God's eyes. If that user asks Jesus into his life, he will then be forgiven of his transgression of God's Law. But that does not mean he does not face the consequences of the national laws of the land.

Please be aware that just because God has forgiven us as Christians, that does not mean that said forgiveness should be applied also to the believer for his transgressions against the law of the land. It does not mean that we set free prisoners who have accepted Jesus Christ into their lives. However, their actions and words can have an effect upon others with whom they are imprisoned with.

It is sometimes a hard thing to face the consequences of our actions. But remember this, Jesus will be right there with us helping us through the very difficult consequences that we face from the actions which we have chosen in this life that are not beneficial to either us or others!

May God bless you all this day! =)