Truth Or Consequences?
Reaping what we sow.

First of all, what is the point of us doing church? The same reason as most people?  To feel we have done our Christian duty? Or to work towards being conformed to Christ?  If the latter, what is involved in accomplishing that, if we are really serious about our own sanctification?

"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."
[Luke 6:47-49]

There are very serious consequences for both the saved and the unsaved, in this life, if we ignore, violate or are ignorant of God's laws.

Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

We think we are fairer, kinder or more just than God, so we abolish the death penalty.  Now we have serial killers and sexual predators roaming the streets.

We think we are more open minded than God so we tolerate lower moral standards in society (and in our homes via the media we allow ourselves and our families to be exposed to).  So, now sexual perversion, hate crimes and violence among the youngest members of society is at an all time high.

We think we need to be our children's buddies rather than the authority in their lives.  Now we have children that act like they are the boss and their parents have become the ones in submission to their children's authority.

We are lenient with our children and we are lenient with our criminals. And what do we reap? Children who become criminals (or at the very least, disrespectful of their parents and of others in positions of authority) and criminals who commit the most heinous of crimes.

Proverbs 24: 30  I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. 32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Good marriages, obedient children and healthy churches don't just happen. They need to be nurtured, worked at, diligently, constantly.

Just as we see in the Bible with King David and others, we reap what we sow.  David's promiscuousness resulted in even more promiscuous children.

The admonitions in scripture regarding discipline, especially Proverbs, tells us that discipline is serious business and an absolutely necessity for the raising of God-fearing god-glorifying children.

When we take this work lightly, we reap very serious long term consequences that are not reversible without supernatural intervention and usually not without harsh chastisement.

If we overlook sin in ourselves and in each other we should not be surprised if we end up like those in Corinth who Paul spoke about in chapter 5.  We could very well see ourselves and our children getting deeper and deeper in sin an not realizing it and not even not caring about.

1Cor 5:1  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us