The Goodness of God in Bad Decisions
The results of a recent survey by LifeWay Research and Bible Studies for Life found nearly half of Americans (47%) agree they are dealing with the consequences of a bad decision on some level. Think about that. Nearly one out of two people you will see on the street, at work, in the park, or at church are dealing with issues related to a bad choice. That is significant, and should guide our thinking as we engage the people around us.
It seems people are constantly running up against the consequences of bad decisions. Try as we might, some things just do not work out. We decide to buy a car only to have something in the engine blow up three weeks later. We search and search for the best house only to have the water heater spring a leak two days after closing. (How much did we pay that home inspector, anyway?) It seems our decisions frequently yield unintended results.
Fixing problems after the fact can be difficult enough, but what happens when our bad decision involves God’s will? Specifically, what happens when we are overtly disobedient to Him?
As we consider the needs people have in responding to bad decisions, we need to help them see God does not abandon those who make bad decisions. Even overtly sinful decisions can be overcome, leading us to a new experience of God’s grace.
If we are to connect the unconnected, we need to be prepared to minister when people are recovering from mistakes.
How Jesus Responded
One well known example of this is Jesus’ response to the Apostle Peter’s denial. Jesus prophesied that Peter would deny Him in His hour of need. Jesus even gave Peter a marker from the animal world – the rooster crowing. Though Peter was disbelieving of Jesus, our Lord’s words were fulfilled. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times while Jesus was on trial for His life. When the rooster crowed, Peter wept bitterly about his denials.
Had Jesus responded to Peter’s denials with judgment or castigation, Pentecost may never have seen the Apostle preaching in the Spirit’s power. Instead, after His resurrection, the angel made it clear that Peter was still numbered among the disciples.
“But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.’” Mark 16:7, HCSB
Have you ever made a decision that brought a bad result? Worse, have you ever felt condemned for making the decision? Or, have you felt that God would never forgive you for it?
We are Forgiven
Thankfully, followers of Christ do not need to live with self-condemnation. The scriptures assure us,
“This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence, even if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience, and He knows all things.” 1 John 3:19-20, HCSB
If God does not condemn us there is no reason to allow our conscience to do so.
God has also promised that our sins have been removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). If they have been removed so far from us, we need not go looking to bring them back.
God’s forgiveness is full and free. Even our most damaging decisions can be redeemed to honor and glorify Him in due time.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church Northwest Arkansas
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
When I think of the bad decisions of Judah with his relationship with Tamar, I am reminded of the greatness of Gods forgivenness, and His ultimate sovereignty. Tamar is in the lineage of Jesus. Our bad decisions NEVER catch God by surprise. Sometimes I think He must sit up in Heaven and laugh at our wisdom. But whatever happens, He is always the loving Father to the believers, and whom He loves, He also chastens.
[…] On his blog this week, Bible Studies For Life General Editor Dr. Ronnie Floyd points out that nearly half of Americans (47%) agree they are dealing with the consequences of a bad decision on some level. Odds are, you are one of them. And if not, certainly there are people who are connected (or need to be connected) to your small group ministry that are dealing with the consequences of bad decisions. As Ronnie says, “If we are to connect the unconnected, we need to be prepared to minister when people are recovering from mistakes.” Check out Dr. Floyd’s insights on how Jesus reveals the goodness of God in the midst of bad decisions. Read more […]
As someone who is currently dealing wig the consequences of a chain of bad decisions,I am deeply touched by this message. I have to say that it is easier to deal with the consquences of our actions when e are the only ones involved. When others are in theix, it’s a whole different ball game.
Thank you. The problem with us Christians is that we are the ones that are quick to condemn and even write off a fellow-Christian who has stumbled in their christian walk with God. We are quick to claim God’s unfailing forgiveness when we sin but do not extend the same attitude to others. I think as Christians at times we act with unbelievable hypocrisy. The Bible is replete with people of God choosing sinful ways (Israel, for example) but God graciously restoring them after repentance. In fact,that was the story of Israel in their dealings with God. It was a cycle of sin followed by punishment followed repentance followed by restoration. Nonetheless,we should not continue in sin so that grace may abound.
[…] During the month of November, our thoughts turn toward the things we are thankful for. For those of us who work with Bible Studies For Life, they are also turning to our next unit of study, Do Over: Experience New Life in Christ, by Ben Mandrell. Thankfully (pun intended), that first thought flows easily into the next. There is nothing we could express more thanksgiving for than God’s goodness, even in the midst of our bad decisions. So this week, we reach back into Dr. Floyd’s blog archive and re-post an article from a few months ago, reminding us how Jesus responded to people around Him who had made sinful decisions, and the hope that give us today. Read more… […]