Protection Not Punishment

“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, , and reason like a child” (1 Cor. 13:11). Didn’t we all? What did our parents know when we were tweens and teens? We didn’t realize that most discipline was to correct or stop something before it could happen. You know, don’t run with scissors, don’t text and drive, wear clean underwear, and so many more. True, some of us needed the end of a paddle to learn the truth that could have been painless if we just trusted our parents to do what was in our best interests. It’s amazing how much they learned between our sixteenth and twenty-fifth birthdays.

It wasn’t until I became a parent at around twenty-five that I began to realize that if I was to truly love my kids, I would have to instill the same kind of discipline my parents tried to teach me. That wake-up call had more humble pie than I wanted to eat. But eat it I did because they were right.

When I was introduced to Jesus as my Savior,

I had a whole new learning curve to scale because I thought I was the smartest one in most rooms I was in. God was so patient and kind in not giving me what I deserved by challenging His authority in my life and hanging on tightly to my stupid childlike pride. Even now it rears its ugly head way more often than I like to admit. But as the quintessential Father, He has provided a clear path, not without trials, but with “guardrails” of truth to keep us moving in the right direction.

For those of you who are parents, you understand the huge responsibility we have to protect our kids; even more so today than when I grew up in the 50s and 60s. Today the hatred and violence that permeate our environment, for the slimmest of often-irrational justification, threaten our peace and prosperity like at no time in my memory.

All of this is background for my main point.

Our heavenly Father doesn’t give us rules of life to limit our joy and punish us, but to protect us from dangers that lurk everywhere. Yes this includes physical danger. But more importantly, He’s concerned about our spiritual well-being. Unlike earthly parents who are concerned, but have no ability to do much about the people and events that we should be alert to, our God has ultimate control over every second of our existence. Though Satan’s plan is to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), God has limited his ability to mess with us. Even when our sin moves us away from God emotionally, it’s never beyond our Father’s knowledge or reach. He does allow correction when we stray. And that’s where we can midjudge our circumstances and shake our fist at God, blaming Him for the consequences of our own actions instead of owning it like adults.

Here’s where the truth often hurts.

In our last post Has God Said we saw that Eve’s disobedience cost them and everyone to follow a separation from God and removal from paradise. God could have said, “I told you so,” because He was clear in His instruction not to eat of the tree. But in His mercy, He promised a deliverer who would fatally wound Satan and buy back our position in the family.

That’s our takeaway for today. God always warns us of the consequences of not obeying Him—before we disobey. Some of the consequences may be painful but restorable (see Jonah). Others lead us to eternal separation from Him where “weeping and gnashing of teeth” is the norm (Matt. 25:30)  and hope has been extinguished.

Let’s look at the last part of the opening verse I quoted,

“…when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” For those of us who struggle with doing things God’s way, permit this reminder from one who knows firsthand that God’s correction can and often will be painful. In Dr. Erwin Lutzer’s book, Getting To No, one of three ground rules he states is, “As an adult, I am responsible for my actions.”

You likely remember the story of the Prodigal Son, who took his inheritance early, went off to conquer the world, and failed dramatically. Luke tells us, “when he came to his senses…” (Luke 15:17). We’re not told how long he was gone; it was long enough to squander all his money. Nor are we told exactly how old he was. But “came to his senses” could be a simile for “became an adult.”

I leave you a choice:

obey or own the consequences. God loves you and gives you the freedom to choose. Make it a wise one. If you’re on the fence, check out Steps To Salvation.