Sin Has Consequences

²⁹ One day as Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh met him along the way. Ahijah was wearing a new cloak. The two of them were alone in a field,³⁰ and Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.³¹ Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and I will give ten of the tribes to you! ³² But I will leave him one tribe for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel. ³³ For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab; and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did.
-First Kings 11:29-33 (NLT)


One thing I think we don't talk enough about is the consequences of sin. We hear a lot about God's forgiveness, but we really don't hear much about consequences. The forgiveness of God is not a license for us to sin. The forgiveness of God is available to us all, for the times we do fall into sin. Jeroboam found out that there is consequences to sin.

We read in verse 33, "For Solomon has abandoned me and worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians; Chemosh, the god of Moab, and Molech, the god of the Ammonites. He has not followed my ways and done what is pleasing in my sight. He has not obeyed my decrees and regulations as David his father did." Jeroboam was about the be thrust into being king over 10 of the tribes of Israel, all because Solomon, the king over all the tribes of Israel turned his back on God. The prophet told Jeroboam that Solomon had abandoned God. He quit following the ways of God and the decrees and regulations. As a result, he lost most of his kingdom. Sin, the sin of turning his back on God, caused Solomon to lose most of his kingdom. What has sin cost you? Yes, Solomon could have repented and sought the forgiveness of God. 


Have you turned your back on God, and started worshiping the things the world worships? Money, fame, sports & movie stars? Sin will cost us something. Sin left unchecked will cost us our life. Do you have sin in your life? Think About It.