~He Touched Me~
Your iniquities have turned away Too often, people confuse God's chastisement with the natural law of "Cause and Effect', which is also known as "What ye sow, ye shall also reap." (see Gal.6:7). I've often heard someone who is going through some kind of trouble say, "Gee, God is really chastising me!", when in reality, they are only reaping what they have sown--- cause and effect. For example, if I place my hand on a hot stove and get burned, is that God chastising me for doing something foolish? Or is it simply the law of cause and effect? That may seem like a silly example, so what about this--- If I go out and have too much to drink, and then wake up the next morning feeling sick and hung-over, is the Lord chastising me for my over- indulgence? Or is it merely the natural law of cause and effect? If I choose to disobey God's laws, doing things that I know are wrong, and then go through a terrible time with my children because they are following my example, can I truly say, "God must be chastising me--- just look what I'm going through!"? Or is it just that old cause and effect again? It is very dangerous to think that our suffering is a result of chastening from God, rather than the result of our own willful disobedience. There is a tendency to think that this "chastisement" is our punishment, and thus we feel that we have fully paid for our willful disobedience to God's word. That allows us to get by without taking responsibility for, confessing, and repenting of our sinfulness. In our own minds, it somehow lessens the impact of our wrong-doing, and relieves us of our accountability. But is it truly chastisement when God allows us to suffer the consequences of our own actions? We need to understand what is really meant by the word "chastisement" The Bible says, "Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth." (Heb. 12:6) The dictionary defines "chasten in this way: To inflict pain, suffering deprivation or misfortune in order to correct, strengthen, or perfect in character, in mental or spiritual qualities or in conduct; to discipline." We really need to understand the difference. God's chastisement is aimed more toward correction than punishment, with the purpose of improving us in some area.When a beloved child does something wrong, as loving parents we should try to gently correct the child, rather than punish him. That is exactly how our heavenly Father deals with us, His beloved children. He is always trying to turn us away from our wrongful ways, molding and shaping us into better Christians, in order that we may receive all the wonderful blessings He wants us to have. How often has our stubborn disobedience kept us from receiving a blessing that our loving Father has in store for us? God did not establish the natural laws of the universe as punishment for future wrong-doers. We need to ask ourselves, "Have I been improved in some way by what I've gone through? Have I become a better person, more obedient to God? Has my life changed, or do I continue in the same old way? Has this been a genuine chastening from God?" When we have to suffer the consequences of our own actions, it is neither God's chastening, nor a punishment. It is simply the natural law of the universe, cause and effect. We would do well to realize the difference. for this beautiful background. Visit them at:  |