Consequences

My first job in High School was as a lifeguard at a Baptist camp. I scanned the water looking for signs of distress that I had been trained to identify. When I saw someone who needed help I used my training and skill to rescue him or her. Over that summer I rescued many who were thankful that I knew what to do.

I did not know when I took the job that it also required me to help with maintenance duties around the camp. I had to mow the grass daily, which I enjoyed, and clean the considerable number of restrooms every morning, which I did not enjoy. In fact, I had never cleaned a restroom in my life and had to be shown how to do it. I know I did a poor job and worked hard to improve. At the end of the week, no matter how good or poor I had done, I still received the same pay that we had agreed upon.

The custodian at the camp taught me many lessons. One of the most valuable came unexpectedly. He reserved the mowing of one field for himself and had cut the grass in a pattern that left long rows of cut grass that could easily be raked. One night some of us on the staff decided to have fun throwing the piles of grass at each other. The next morning he called us in and handed us rakes. I learned that there were consequences for my actions. I was paid for my disobedience just as I was paid at the end of the week for my work.

Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) Paul compares sin to having a job. No matter how good or poor you do the wage is still the same, death. Salvation, on the other hand, is a gift, not a job. Jesus dove in to rescue us in our distress. His gift of life gives us freedom from sin and power to do right. He is working in us to turn our freedom into holiness.

Bro. Robin