Life is full of consequences. Cause and effect. We can reflect on our lives and see where one action starts a change of consequences. Sometimes positive and sometimes negative. Still, we know that there are always consequences for our actions. Consider the messages of the Bible.

We live in a fallen world because of Adam and Eve. Thus, one Bible message is that actions can have dire consequences. Yet, a more important message from the Bible is that God loves us despite ourselves. Even when we mess up, God still loves us. However, because there are positive and negative consequences, God must adhere to justice resulting from our actions.

However, how the consequences of our actions are communicated to us can differ without changing the results. Consider King David and his adultery with Bathsheba and Uriah’s murder (2 Samuel 11-12).

The situation with Bathsheba didn’t start after David slept with her. The issue started when David, for whatever reason, stayed behind in Jerusalem instead of going out with the army. Then, he spots Bathsheba bathing when wandering about the palace’s roof. David sends someone to find out Bathsheba’s identity, and instead of leaving his lust behind because Bathsheba is a married woman, David sends for her and sleeps with her.

After Bathsheba gets pregnant, David tries to cover up his adultery by recalling Uriah from the front lines, but Uriah, instead of sleeping with his wife, dutifully remains near David at the palace. Finally, David sends Uriah back to the front lines with a message to Joab to expose Uriah in battle so he will be killed. Although Uriah is killed in action, other men are killed as well.

After all this, the Lord sends Nathan, the prophet, to rebuke David. Nathan could have rebuked David by directly calling him out. However, instead of confronting David directly, Nathan tells him a parable about a rich man with many sheep and a poor man with just one. One day when the rich man wanted to feed a guest, instead of killing one of his own sheep, he killed the poor man’s sheep, which was like a daughter to him. At hearing this, David becomes enraged and demands that the rich man die for his actions. At this point, Nathan gives David this insight.

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you all Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more'” (emphasis added).

2 Samuel 12:7-8 (NIV)

When David realizes his guilt, he repents. However, because of his actions, David’s newborn son dies, and he and his house are cursed to never have “the sword depart” from it (2 Samuel 12:10 NIV).

Imagine if Nathan had come out and directly told David he’d sinned against the Lord. How do you think David would have responded? Would he have responded with the same thirst for justice we see in 2 Samuel 12:5-6?

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.”

2 Samuel 12:5-6 (NIV)

I don’t think so. Instead, I believe David would have still repented but to what degree? David couldn’t possibly have repented with the heartfelt empathy of a king desiring justice for one who had been wronged had he not disassociated himself from the situation because, to him, Nathan was recounting some horrible crime “someone else” committed.

David was guilty. There’s no question of that. David also received the consequences for his actions for his crimes and for his repentance. God forgave him of his sin.

Now, let’s consider the Gospel message and how we communicate it. When we tell people about Jesus, what do we say? Do we lead by telling them they’re going to hell if they don’t repent, or do we share the message with them as Jesus did? With love? Remember, however, we share the news the consequences of sin are the same.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Jesus died because we all sinned. That’s the consequence of sin. Yet, Jesus died for our sins. Yours and mine. That’s a gift from God. If people accept God’s gift, they are freed from the penalty of sin because Jesus paid the penalty (our wages). If people don’t receive God’s gift, they receive their wages themselves.

Therefore, when we tell people about Jesus, how do we share the Gospel message with them? We can tell them they’re going to hell because of their sin, in which case they might respond out of fear. Or, we can tell them that Jesus paid the price for their sin because of his love for them. In this case, they may repent out of love. In either case, the Gospel message is told. However, how it’s received can vary depending on how we disclose it.

Do you know the Lord? If you don’t know God, then know that God knows you and loves you. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance so they can spend eternity with him. If you want to know God and be saved from your sins, then pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I sincerely repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe you died on the cross and were buried, and God the Father raised you from the dead on the third day. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.