Consequences

Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the LORD by doing this, your child will die." After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah's wife. (2 Samuel 12:14-15 NLT)

David was released from the sin he had committed with Bathsheba and for the death of Bathsheba's Husband, Uriah.  This brings me joy at times - the times when I've messed up and need forgiveness myself.  It brings me outrage at others - the times when people sin against me and it seems like nothing is being done. But, sin is always punished with death.  God told us that is the price.  David was about to watch the price of his own sin being lived out in front of him.

David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. (2 Samuel 12:16-17 NLT)

When we go to God in prayer, we invite God to act.  The thing we need to remember is that God makes up his own mind.  In this case, David was going to see and experience at least some of the consequences for his own actions.  David would watch his son die.

We don't know what it is like to see the consequences of our own actions - not really.  The penalty of death must be paid for sin and, for those who receive the gift, it has been paid already.  God came down in the form of the man, Jesus, and laid down his life for us.  He died so that we might live.  

I wonder if my life would be different had I seen him die on the cross.  I wonder if Christians as a whole would be different.  I wonder if we would pray more, listen to Him more, and sin less because we remembered the horrendous images from that day.  I wonder if it would change us to see the consequences of our actions.

Then on the seventh day the child died. David's advisers were afraid to tell him. "He wouldn't listen to reason while the child was ill," they said. "What drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?" When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. "Is the child dead?" he asked. "Yes," they replied, "he is dead." Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the LORD. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate. His advisers were amazed. "We don't understand you," they told him. "While the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again." David replied, "I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, 'Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.' But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me." (2 Samuel 12:18-23 NLT)

David moved on with his life, but his life would never be the same.  He would always remember what had happened as a result of his sin.  This time in his life would always be remembered as his great fall from grace.  It would also be remembered as the time he returned to God again.  He began following God again.  He will still be remembered as a man after God's own heart.  Is that how we will be remembered - as people after God's own heart?  We can always start today.