Sermon # 14 - Choices Have Consequences Series

We read in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work.” (ISV)

God is able to make every blessing overflow for us, and though it seems like there is no evidence that God’s promises are possible, and even when situations seems adverse, the Lord is able to fulfill all of His promises. The secret is that we have to believe the word, and trust the God who made the promise. Our God is faithful to all His promises, and hence He will fulfill every promise that He has made.

Adam and Eve enjoyed God’s overflowing abundance

The first man who enjoyed this overflowing abundant blessing in his life was Adam. However, we will try to understand the things that can hinder these blessings in our lives. If we are not aware of these, we will most likely miss out on the blessings that God desires to lavish on us.

In the Garden of Eden, there was great fellowship and union between God and man. Also there perfect harmony between Adam and Eve. They had abundance of trees, fruits, precious stones, rivers and everything they desired. There was nothing that they lacked, but were in a place of perfect abundance.

Sometimes, God gives us certain stipulations, and all of these are entirely for our own good. Government has the authority to give us license to drive. The motorcycle may be ours and we may take the effort to procure the license, however, when the government has a rule that we should wear a helmet when riding, if we don’t abide by the rule, we put ourselves in danger.

Note how the promises of God also come with certain stipulations that we are required to follow. Often we like to hold on to the promises, but don’t want to take heed to the restrictions that God has placed for us.

The only condition God imposed

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed everything in its fullness. They had the presence of God, unison with God and each other, and every other blessing that they could ever dream of.

We read about it in Genesis 2:16-17, And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 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." (ESV)

Some people argue this way, ‘If only God did not place the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve would never have sinned.’ Why did a good God place this tree in the Garden when He knew that Adam and Eve would make wrong choices and would cause the downfall of all mankind?

The answer to this question is found in our understanding of the way in which God created human beings.

We read in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (ESV)

Man was created in the image of God Himself. Of all God’s creation the only ones who were created in the image of God was human beings. This is such a blessing God has bestowed on us and part of this image of God is the freedom to choose. We have such a good God who gave man the freedom to choose to love and obey Him or choose to walk away in disobedience.

As long as Adam and Eve obeyed God, they enjoyed the overflowing abundance of God in their lives. This was the consequences for their obedience. However, they also had the freedom to not obey God if they chose to and face the consequences for the same.

1. Be careful about your choices

Every choice has a consequence

There is an important point that we must bear in mind, and that is the fact that for every choice we make there will be a consequence.

At the beginning of a New Year many children will make a resolution that they will take their studies seriously, do their home-work every day, and parents will be elated with these decisions. This resolution will last only for a few weeks and honestly if a student could uphold this resolution throughout the year, they will top their class. There are other children who will procrastinate and never complete their assignments on time. The fact of the matter is that there will be a consequence for every decision that is taken.

For instance everyone who came to church made a choice to do so, and if for some reason someone did not choose to come to church, they have the freedom to do so.