More often than I like, I’ve been challenged when a person admits breaking God’s law, but what they said was an admission more than a humble confession. I easily forgave them, but my forgiveness alone left my spirit uneasy. As a responsible leader, should my personal forgiveness override the required consequences? That drove me to a deeper search of God’s Word.
When Adam and Eve sinned, their guilt and shame led them to hide from God. When God asked Adam where he was, He was trying to help Adam take his first step by coming out of hiding, which he did. Then came the crisis point. Adam immediately admitted his sin by saying, “I was afraid because I was naked.” God responded by drawing Adam farther out of his emotional hiding by asking, ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ God was leaving a wide-open door for Adam to come clean with his and Eve’s sin; but Adam refused to go through that open door.
It is easy to acknowledge our predicament. However, our pride makes it hard for us to own the choice that got us into that predicament. Consider Adam and Eve.
Adam immediately became defensive. Instead of humbly confessing their sin, he went on the defense and pointed fingers of blame. Adam essentially put the blame on God and his wife. “The woman You gave to be with me, she gave me of the fruit of the tree, and I ate it.” Does that sound familiar? It also makes me wonder how God felt when Adam blamed Him for his sin.
God then spoke to Eve to expose her position in this situation. She followed Adam’s lead and blamed the serpent for deceiving her. What might you say is wrong with this picture?
Paul had sent a letter to correct the believers at Corinth. It brought them, as well as himself, pain that led to their good. “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regrets for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT
Instead of godly sorrow for their blatant sin, they exhibited prideful defensiveness. Was God angry at them? No, He showed compassion by making coats of skins to cover their nakedness. Adam had admitted the fact that they had sinned but did not have godly sorrow that leads to a changed life. God turned their bad into good by sending them out of His kingdom and enacting His plan of redemption for all of Adam and Eve’s offspring. In doing that, all creation would see the magnitude of His grace and mercy.
We cannot respond as God, but His example teaches us that respectfully accepting negative consequences can positively influence our future confessions. This should apply to our poor decisions and those of others. Were you truly sorry, or did you abuse God’s kindness? Did you think God would forgive you even if you didn’t feel remorse? Does ignoring consequences ever lead to positive life changes for you? Can we help each other assess the value of confessing and owning up to mistakes?
Hard questions. Makes me look deep within myself!