Some things don't change even you are forgiven. I will give you a picture. It's just like, if you are no longer a virgin, you are no longer a virgin. You can do nothing about it. Losing your virginity as an unbeliever is one thing, as a believer is quite another. I mean of course if you are not married.
This is a very big subject. And I fear I might write too long of a response.
It is true that forgiveness may not save us from certain consequences elsewhere.
Many a Christian incarcerated or unwed parent Christian realizes this.
Then we have the Bible to tell us of David.
We all know about David's adultery and murder. And we know how he suffered in his family afterwards.
But I tell you our Lord Jesus Christ until the very end of the Bible is not ashamed to associate Himself with David!
I Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches.
I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright morning star. (Rev. 22:16)
Sometimes when suffering the consequences of a sin God will encourage the regreting one
that He is still in full control. The Zarephathian widow that Elijah miraculously provided wealth for
had her only son die. She thought of it as God reminding her of some past iniquity.
Then after these things the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Elijah, What have I done to you, O man of God, that you have come to me to recall my iniquity and kill my son? (1 Kings 17:17,18)
God had Elijah raise the child back to life for the woman. Though he had already done a mighty miracle for her this time
she was convinced he truly was a man of God.
And Jehovah listened to the voice of Elijah; and the child’s soul came into him again, and he lived.
And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother.
And Elijah said, See, your son is alive. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that you are a man of God and that the word of Jehovah in your mouth is truth. (1 Kings 17:22-24)
I think God allowed this to happen to free the woman from her excessive regret of her past sins. I think God did this to
get her attention that He still loved her and was in full control of her
"life after failure."
My feeling is that a twin event to this (two's a testimony) happens with the Shunamite woman whose miracle son
died and was brought back to life this time by Elisha the prophet.
And he [Elisha] said, At this time next year you shall embrace a son. And she said, No, my lord, O man of God, do not deceive your servant. And the woman conceived and bore a son at that time the next year, as Elisha had told her. (2 Kings 4:17-18)
Then the miracle child grew to be a young man who suddenly died working in the field. And the dispairing woman interpreted
this "taking back" of the miracle son as the prophet deceiving her, perhaps as discipline for some past sin.
And when she came to the man of God on the mountain, she clung to his feet. And Gehazi approached to push her away, but the man of God said, Leave her alone; for she is bitter in soul, and Jehovah has hidden the matter from me and has not told me about it.
And she said, Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me? (2 Kings 4:27,28)
She would not open her heart in this matter to anyone except the prophet personally.
My opinion is that probably she also thought she was still being punished for some past secret deep failure.
The lesson in both of these accounts I think is God reassuring some believer that He is still fully in blessed control
though they may be under circumstances for past sins.
So true, even though we are forgiven we may suffer consequences of our past. Yet the Bible has ample
evidence that this does not hinder God's marvelous providence and shepherding of us into His will.
Peter's name is on the foundation of the New Jerusalem
(Rev. 21:14).
Thoughout the New Testament Peter makes many mistakes.
For those too much thinking God is still punishing them through their circumstances, the Psalmist says.
He will not always contend with us, / Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, / Nor has He recompensed us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, / So great is His lovingkindness upon those who fear Him. (Psa. 103:9-11)
Let me stop here. There is quite much more I'd like to say about this big subject.
Thanks for your word there.
