Consequences to follow

As a supporter of Mark Sanford, I was disappointed when the news broke last week about his affair. I must say that I respect the fact that he released this information on his own rather than waiting until he was forced to address it. Yes, often we hold people in the public eye to a higher standard. I don't necessarily agree with that, but we do expect more from our leaders and icons than we expect from ourselves.

This incident just goes to show that no one is immune from making mistakes. It also shows that no one is immune from grace. Regardless of the standard we set for others and the repercussions we think should be placed on them, Grace is the ultimate standard.

The night that this news broke, my devotion happened to be about repentance and consequences. In 2 Chronicles 12 we see that King Rehoboam has turned his back on God and is ruling in his own power. The King of Egypt rises up to destroy Israel. Rehoboam realizes that he and his people are going to die as a result of his disobedience. In verse 6 we see that he is sorry for what he has done and says that the Lord does what is right.

King Rehoboam wasn't trying to get out of his consequences, he simply saw that this was what was due to him. He didn't admit his fault to get out of anything. As a matter of fact, the Egyptians continued to attack. However, no one was destroyed and Rehoboam went on to rule, this time trusting in God.

Many times we admit our wrongs in an effort to get ourselves out of trouble and usually this tactic does not work. We can't cry a few tears and bat our eye lashes and get out of everything (despite the fact that many of our parents have perpetuated this belief in us). People get hurt and bridges are burned as a result of our bad decisions. However, grace still abounds and it is by grace that we are given the opportunity for a second chance.

Romans 5:20 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more,

Romans 5:20 (The Message)
All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. (Emphasis mine)

As believers, regardless of our social status, we are held to the highest of standards, Christ's standard. Because of this we can expect that we will face much more scrutiny for our actions as we have seen with Gov. Sanford. This means that we have to be even more careful of everything that we do and count the cost of all of our decisions. It is of utmost importance that we live our lives above reproach.

Luke 12:48 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
But the one who did not know and did things deserving of blows will be beaten lightly. Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more.

Guard your heart and count the cost! There will be consequences to follow.