Eternal Consequences

You can teach an old dog new tricks.

I taught my little art class of senior residents at the nursing home how to use pastels. They loved it, and most were happy with their work. I had never done anything but pencil drawings with them, and none had used pastels before. They are always so eager, that I thought it might be fun to try something new.

"It's nice when it looks like what it is supposed to," said one, holding hers up.
"Yes, it is! How about charcoal next month?"
"Once I did a beautiful charcoal," said Josie, "I can still picture it in my mind. It was a window scene looking out over a beautiful setting. The art teacher said she would take it home to spray it with fixative so it wouldn't smudge. I never got it back. Do you know I saw it at an art show one day, and it won a prize, with her name on it!"
She paused and shook her head mournfully, "I've never forgotten that."
The whole class commiserated with her, and I said, "Well, it is on her conscience."
"Yes, yes it is," agreed Josie, "It breaks my heart to this day."

Sin never just hurts the person doing it, and it can have life long repercussions. It is one reaon why God takes sin so seriously. It is a direct affront to loving one another, and to loving God. There is never victimless sin. Somehow, we are deluded into thinking, "My body, my choice, my sin." But sin is an octopus with countless arms reaching in directions one never considers. The collateral damage can last a lifetime.

I smiled at sweet, gentle Josie.
"Well when we do a charcoal next time, you will know what to do, and I promise, I won't steal your picture."
"Yes," she said smiling.
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Psalm 38:1-11 

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering. O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,

2 Samuel 12:14 

Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

Genesis 3:15 

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Genesis 2:17 

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”