Repentance Doesn’t Remove Consequences: A Lesson Through Faith

The Instagram page by @iansimkins got me again with a good one.
They shared a post that said, “repentance doesn’t remove consequences.” What a deep topic.

I actually had to pause when I read it because it hit so deep.

One of the biggest figures in scripture where this plays out is Moses and how he was disqualified from seeing the promised land. After forty years of wandering the desert.

Forty years.

Forty years of leading the Israelites, filled with work, suffering, and stress. Thinking he was going to walk into the land promised by God, but he died before reaching it.

And to be clear, God told Moses he would no longer see the promised land. Why? Because he disobeyed. God gave instructions for Moses to speak to the rock, but he struck it.

And guys, God still loved Moses. Moses didn’t lose God’s favor. But he still had consequences.

If you’re a parent, can’t you relate so much to that concept?
Our children may break the rules, maybe forget to listen. You still love them. You still provide a safe place. It doesn’t change the bond between you both.

Actions will always have consequences, including sin.
It’s always good to ask for forgiveness. It’s even better to try to correct your behavior.

So where do people get lost in this?
When we go, “woe is me,” or “I prayed and this bad thing still happened,” or “I go to church and I’m still being punished.”

And it’s okay. It’s not punishment. Sometimes it’s just the consequence of our own actions (ahem… not God’s). We are quick to blame. Quick to step into the role of the victim.

When we take on the role of being one of God’s children, we take on a relationship.
And remember, we may mess up, we may face a consequence, but God will always love His children. Just as parents do their own.

So don’t get lost in trying to dissect every action or consequence. Use your mistakes as stepping stones to becoming a better person.

And honestly, there’s something so comforting (is that the right word?) about learning this through Moses, such a profound figure in history. It’s easy to see him as favored, but even he messed up.

That pattern shows up throughout scripture, but maybe that’s a topic for another day.

So remember, repentance does not negate consequence.