So last Sunday (May 20, 2012) we talked about Lust in the 5th of the Seven Deadly Sins in the “Deadly!” series. Here’s a list of 27 Consequences of Sexual Sin that help me focus on the cost of messing up. Usually we think that we can handle sin or we can get away with it when no one is looking. But the price of sin is high.

First, the price for my sin required nothing less than the death of the innocent Son of God, Jesus, the Christ, the Holy One,who died an ugly, humiliating, horribly painful death on the cross to satisfy his Father’s wrath for my sin. My sin is very costly.

Second, there are all sorts of additional costs/consequences. Here’s 27…

27 Consequences of Sexual Sin …

These are only some of the consequences of sexual sin. If only we would rehearse in advance the ugly and overwhelming consequences of immorality, we would be far more prone to avoid it. May we live each day in the love and fear of God.

Grieving my Lord; displeasing the One whose opinion most matters. Dragging into the mud Christ’s sacred reputation. Loss of reward and commendation from God. Having to one day look Jesus in the face at the judgment seat and give an account of why I did it. Forcing God to discipline me in various ways. Following in the footsteps of men I know of whose immorality forfeited their ministry and caused me to shudder. List of these names: Suffering of innocent people around me who would get hit by my shrapnel (a la Achan). Untold hurt to my best friend and faithful wife. Loss of my wife’s respect and trust. Hurt to and loss of credibility with my beloved children. (“Why listen to a man who betrayed Mom and us?”) If my blindness should continue or my family be unable to forgive, I could lose my wife and my children forever. Shame to my family. (“Why isn’t Daddy a ________ anymore?”; the cruel comments of others who would invariably find out.) Shame to my church family. Shame and hurt to my fellow Chritisans. List of names: Shame and hurt to my friends, and especially those I’ve led to Christ and discipled. List of names: … Guilt awfully hard to shake-even though God would forgive me, would I forgive myself? Plaguing memories and flashbacks that could taint future intimacy with my wife. Disqualifying myself after having preached to others. Surrender of the things I am called to and love to do-teach and preach and write and minister to others. Forfeiting forever certain opportunities to serve God. Years of training and experience in ministry wasted for a long period of time, maybe permanently. Being haunted by my sin as I look in the eyes of others, and having it all dredged up again wherever I go and whatever I do. Undermining the hard work and prayers of others by saying to our community “This is a hypocrit! Who can take seriously anything he and his church have said and done?” Laughter, rejoicing and blasphemous smugness by those who disrespect God and the church (2 Samuel 12:14). Bringing great pleasure to Satan, the Enemy of God. Heaping judgment and endless problems on the person I would have committed adultery with. Possible diseases: gonorrhea, syphilis, Chlamydia, herpes, and AIDS (pain, constant reminder to me and my wife, possible infection of my wife or in the case of AIDS, even causing her death, as well as mine.) Possible pregnancy, with its personal and financial implications, including a lifelong reminder of sin to me and my family. Loss of self-respect, discrediting my own name, and invoking shame and lifelong embarrassment upon myself.

“Against You, You only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in Your sight O God…

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

– Psalm 51:4, 10-12

By Randy Alcorn, from his free Eternal Perspectives newsletter. www.epm.org

Take some time to write your own list of the consequences of sexual sin for you. Then make a copy and put it somewhere where you’ll see it frequently.

Resting in Him,

Steve