And the word of the Lord came to Zechari′ah, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy each to his brother, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.” But they refused to hearken, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts like adamant lest they should hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”
Choices lead to actions.
Actions lead to reactions.
Reactions lead to consequences.
Every adult person on the face of this good Earth understands this is the order of things. We could even go so far as to define adulthood as when one finally understands this is the order of things.
It does not matter if I am saint or sinner. If I trip I will fall and I will bruise my knee. In this universe, gravity is definitely the order of things!
It does not matter if I am saint or sinner. If I gorge on chocolate ice cream and fudge brownies I will get fat. Sadly, excess calories are also the order of things.
Choices lead to actions.
Actions lead to reactions.
Reactions lead to consequences.
If I am rude, insensitive, and uncaring, I will quickly alienate others and drive them away. I know this because those who are rude, insensitive, and uncaring towards me alienate me and drive me away.
If I am honorable, respectful, and courteous, I will receive respect from those who are likewise honorable, respectful, and courteous. Those who do not treat me with honor, respect, and courtesy are by definition rude, insensitive, and uncaring. I will be drawn to the former and alienated by the latter.
Choices lead to actions.
Actions lead to reactions.
Reactions lead to consequences.
I have commented on this fundamental truth multiple times, and that is not by accident. That there are consequences both good and evil is foundational to how we apprehend good and evil, and how we must weigh good and evil when choosing our actions (and therefore our consequences).
Whether our actions are sinful or saintly, they are in all cases the origin of whatever consequences come our way.
We know this. As children, our parents teach us this above all else. This lesson reverberates throughout the Old Testament as well as the Gospels.
It was a lesson King David learned the hard way after he sinfully seduced Bathsheba.
It was a lesson Rehoboam failed to learn when he became King of Israel upon King Solomon’s passing.
It was a lesson Hosea preached to the Israelites, when he warned them they had sown the wind, and would reap the whirlwind.
It was the admonition Jesus gave Satan in the desert, that we are not to put the Lord to the test.
Choices lead to actions.
Actions lead to reactions.
Reactions lead to consequences.
What we do is pivotal in charting what consequences come our way.
We have seen this lesson played out quite often of late.
In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination at a college speaking event, we have witnessed teachers, government employees, and even media personalities and journalists demonize and vilify Charlie Kirk, only to find themselves summarily fired.
We have seen Texas Governor Greg Abbott promise to cancel the teaching credentials of all Texas public school teachers who celebrate Charlie Kirk’s death.
We have seen Secretary of State Marco Rubio promise to deport any non-citizen who makes a public comment praising Charlie Kirk’s killing.
We have seen interest in Charlie Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, surge in the wake of his death. If the objective in killing him was to deprive the political right of powerful advocacy, those who orchestrated the assassination have failed miserably.
We have also seen people shocked and dismayed at the consequences they incur from their actions. People who have lost their jobs for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination have been in many, if not most cases, surprised at that outcome.
Yet is it truly reasonable for people not to foresee that reveling in the death of another human being, in a tragedy visited upon another’s family, might have more than a few negative consequences? Has the world forgotten all sense of courtesy and civility, of decency, that people genuinely believe it is permissible to demonize and denigrate a victim of assassination?
Have we forgotten what parents at least used to warn their children: “if you can’t say something nice about someone say nothing at all”?
Or do we remember and simply choose to disregard?
Was that not the situation for the ancient Israelites? Warned by Zechariah to heed the call of the Lord, a call to worship and fidelity to the Law, the people scorned both the call and the Law, scorned even God himself.
When God called the Israelites to return to Him, they chose to ignore that call. When the Israelites at last called out to God for help in a crisis, He chose to ignore their call.
Choices lead to actions.
Actions lead to reactions.
Reactions lead to consequences.
In this country and around the world, people and even whole societies have turned away from God’s calling. They ignore His Law, preferring instead to live their lives in denial and disobedience.
Yet they are surprised when no one gives grace to them, after they have denied grace to others.
They are shocked when others shun them, after they have called for others to be shunned.
They are horrified when the levers of government power are moved against them, after moving those same levers against those with whom they disagree.
Should we not expect such reactions and such consequences? Knowing human nature, is it so hard to fathom that people will do to others what has been done to them?
Knowing God’s Law, knowing right from wrong and good from evil, yet choosing to ignore God’s Law, should we not expect that God will impose consequences for that choice?
If we do not forgive others, should we not expect that God will not forgive us?
If we are not compassionate and charitable towards others, should we not expect that God will not be compassionate and charitable towards us?
In Matthew 7, Jesus warned that we should not judge, or we will ourselves be judged. Jesus warned that the judgement we render is the judgement that will be rendered upon us.
If we condemn our neighbor and cut them off from our mercy, by that same condemnation we are likewise cut off from God’s mercy.
Choices lead to actions.
Actions lead to reactions.
Reactions lead to consequences.
We know this. We have known this from childhood. We have known this throughout human history.
Yet still people do not listen. Still people do not heed God’s call. Still people deny God and reject God’s Law.
That path can only end one way: very badly. Surely, if we are honest with ourselves, we know that as well.
My prayer especially now is that I will heed God’s call. My prayer especially now is that I will be ever more attuned to God’s Law, and more focused on adhering to God’s Law. My prayer especially now is that I will choose rightly and righteously, that my actions may likewise be righteous, ending in righteous consequences whatever they may be.
My prayer for you is that you also will heed God’s call. My prayer for you is that you also will be ever more attuned to God’s Law, and more focused on adhering to God’s Law. My prayer for you is that you will choose rightly and righteously, that your actions may likewise be righteous, ending in righteous consequences whatever they may be.
Choices lead to actions.
Actions lead to reactions.
Reactions lead to consequences.
For all of us, in all times and in all circumstances, this is always the order of things.
So very, deeply true, Peter - and so perfectly said.
Why do most people need most of their lifetime to truly learn this lesson? Maybe it’s God gradually teaching us humility, and the realization that we need His guidance and forgiveness. Maybe it’s to evolve our souls into becoming more angelic and wise. Whatever is the Grand Plan, it seems to be our human nature to repeatedly err, and to need to repeatedly ask for forgiveness, and learn life’s lessons.
After you’ve grasped your errors, you need to get to a point where you thoroughly forgive yourself, as God has answered your prayers and forgiven you. This can be psychologically difficult, but keep working at it until you can feel the burden of guilt and remorse lifted from you. Then you can feel God’s love, and surely that is something He desires!
Bless your beautiful, insightful soul forever, Peter!
Thank you Pete,
If I drive like a maniac, ⚖️ they take away my license to drive. (been there, done that, paid the tickets)