The Cost of Disobedience

[votivesoul]

This is a true story:

When I was a kid, I could run really fast. Like, faster than most adults, beat all of the older kids in the neighborhood, fast.

But I had a problem. I never once thought twice about crossing the street in front of moving cars because I always knew I was fast enough, or so I believed.

I did this all the time, much to my mom's consternation. She repeatedly ordered me to slow down, look both ways, and not run out in front of cars.

Sometimes she punished me when she caught me doing this. One time, I ran across the street to the ice cream truck, and ran back, right in front of a car, in front of my mom, and she took my treat away. There was also a lot of yelling and whatever else I ignored on my quest to disobey my mother.

But then, one day, as my brother and I were playing with a ball on the sidewalk in front of the house, the ball went past me and bounced down into the street. I naturally ran after it, without thinking, without slowing down, without looking both ways. I ran out in front of a school bus.

The bus driver panicked when she saw me, and I panicked, too. I threw myself to the ground, like sliding into second base, to stop myself from getting run over. I was wearing shorts and I had thrown myself down in our old, broken up, asphalt driveway. I tore my knees up something fierce.

I was able to get up and cautiously go and retrieve the ball. My mom cleaned my wounds, bandaged me up, and soon enough, my knees healed.

I never ran out in front of a car again. I didn't dare. My disobedience had finally caught up with me, and it made me pay a cost.

But the cost wasn't scraped up knees, or a lasting fearful impression of the bus heading right for me.

It was that I never trusted my ability to run fast enough to cross a street if a car was coming.

Sure, I became more practical, more cautious, or level-headed, you might say. But in gaining those things, I also lost some courage, some daring, some understanding of my own abilities, and what I was capable of. In short, my disobedience to my mom, my willingness to risk life and limb by running out in front of cars, ruined my faith. Had I simply always obeyed my mom in the first place, there would have never been such a costly lesson. There would not have been any loss of trust or reliance upon my ability to run faster than anyone I knew.

When we disobey God, we lose something. Our disobedience costs us our faith. If we would just simply continually obey God, we'd never second guess or doubt or wonder or be too afraid to do what He has called us to do.

But when we give into our flesh and the temptations thereof, and we transgress by disobeying, our ability to trust and rely upon the Lord is weakened. We become more cautious, a bit slower to move, more "practical", more "level-headed", even if or when God is calling for us to be quick and run head-long into His will for our lives. Small things like cuts and bruises will heal. Even the spectre of some scare will fade with time. But the person it causes you to become can stay with you forever, if you disobey.

[Lanny60]

Excellent lesson, and so very true!! Thank you for sharing that. It will give me that morning chew toy for today, something to search my heart about and consider. God bless!

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

This is a true story:

When I was a kid, I could run really fast. Like, faster than most adults, beat all of the older kids in the neighborhood, fast.

But I had a problem. I never once thought twice about crossing the street in front of moving cars because I always knew I was fast enough, or so I believed.

I did this all the time, much to my mom's consternation. She repeatedly ordered me to slow down, look both ways, and not run out in front of cars.

Sometimes she punished me when she caught me doing this. One time, I ran across the street to the ice cream truck, and ran back, right in front of car, in front of my mom, and she took my treat away. There was also a lot of yelling and whatever else I ignored on my quest to disobey my mother.

But then, one day, as my brother and I were playing with a ball on the sidewalk in front of the house, the ball went past me and bounced down into the street. I naturally ran after it, without thinking, without slowing down, without looking both ways. I ran out in front of a school bus.

The bus driver panicked when she saw me, and I panicked, too. I threw myself to the ground, like sliding into second base, to stop myself from getting run over. I was wearing shorts and I had thrown myself down in our old, broken up, asphalt driveway. I tore my knees up something fierce.

I was able to get up and cautiously go and retrieve the ball. My mom cleaned my wounds, bandaged me up, and soon enough, my knees healed.

I never ran out in front of a car again. I didn't dare. My disobedience had finally caught up with me, and it made me pay a cost.

But the cost wasn't scraped up knees, or a lasting fearful impression of the bus heading right for me.

It was that I never trusted my ability to run fast enough to cross a street if a car was coming.

Sure, I became more practical, more cautious, or level-headed, you might say. But in gaining those things, I also lost some courage, some daring, some understanding of my own abilities, and what I was capable of. In short, my disobedience to my mom, my willingness to risk life and limb by running out in front of cars, ruined my faith. Had I simply always obeyed my mom in the first place, there would have never been such a costly lesson. There would not have been any loss of trust or reliance upon my ability to run faster than anyone I knew.

When we disobey God, we lose something. Our disobedience costs us our faith. If we would just simply continually obey God, we'd never second guess or doubt or wonder or be too afraid to do what He has called us to do.

But when we give into our flesh and the temptations thereof, and we transgress by disobeying, our ability to trust and rely upon the Lord is weakened. We become more cautious, a bit slower to move, more "practical", more "level-headed", even if or when God is calling for us to be quick and run head-long into His will for our lives. Small things like cuts and bruises will heal. Even the spectre of some scare will fade with time. But the person it causes you to become can stay with you forever, if you disobey.

Very good point.

David penned Psalms 51 after Nathan confronted him for his sin with Bathsheba. In that chapter he wrote:

"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."....(Psalms 51:12, KJV)

David did not ask to be "saved." Instead, he asked that the "joy" he once had be restored. This wasn't just him feeling guilty for disobeying God, it was also him feeling badly for failing his own faith.

Often the last person to forgive you for the sins you do is you.

[houston]

No... why did you post this?

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by houston

No... why did you post this?

It was something on my heart, that I had been thinking about for a few weeks, and finally decided to share it.

May I ask, what's with the "No..." that prefaced your question?

[UnTraditional]

Obedience comes from a heart touched and transformed by His grace. When we do things contrary to His Word and will, we step out of our identity and His purpose for our life. This was well written, VS. Keep up the good work.

[houston]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

May I ask, what's with the "No..." that prefaced your question?

No, no you may not. I will pm you later... if I remember.

[Amanah]

Joel 3:14
14..Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

1 Corinthians 16:13
13..Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

[Michael The Disciple]

The longer we resist the will of God by disobedience the more the cost may go up. Note the fearful warning Jesus gave to a New Testament Church who were moving farther into sin.

19I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. 20Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. Rev 2:19-23

When is the last time you heard this preached?