Word of the Week: Consequences

I don’t know if the political discourse in our country has reached an all-time low, but it’s probably pretty close.

Coarse. Crass. And crude. Are three words that come to mind. Along with insulting. Accusing. And insolent.

The extreme polarization in our country has been on public display during the Senate Judiciary hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Much has been spoken and written about due process, respecting women, telling the truth, as well as fairness, judging the validity of testimony, and the importance of a single vote.

However, I heard nothing on the national news media, nor on media websites that was at the center of the hearings and many of the questions—danger of drinking alcoholic beverages; Especially among our young people.

While Judge Kavanaugh has vehemently denied the accusations leveled against him and  may be innocent, he is suffering the consequences of his underage drinking habits that he freely admitted. In fact, he confessed that he often drank beer, “sometimes too much.”

Kavanaugh’s accuser, Dr. Christine Ford, also admitted she attended and participated in drinking parties while only 15 years old. During one such party she alleges that Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her. Her tearful account of that memory has dramatically affected her life.

Regardless of who you believe, one thing is certain. Two teens attended a party that involved drinking that has produced negative consequences later in life. In fact, Kavanaugh said that as a young person drinking was prevalent and often excessive.

If both Kavanaugh and Ford had received and heeded the advice given to me by my parents and the preacher where I attended church, they would have totally abstained from drinking beer or even attending such parties. And none of this would be an issue today.

The Bible principle of “sowing and reaping” speaks to the issue of consequences. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

As Tom Shadyac once observed, “You can’t sow an apple seed and expect to get an avocado tree. The consequences of your life are sown in what you do and how you behave.”

I suppose it sounds outdated, old-fashioned, and unrealistic, but I recommend total abstinence from alcoholic beverages.

The wise man warns against strong drink and reminds us of a few of its consequences.

“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end, it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind imagine confusing things.” (Proverbs 23:29-33)

God created us as creatures of choice. But our choices have consequences. Always. They may not reveal themselves immediately, but as in the case with Judge Kavanaugh, they can come back to haunt us years later, even after a successful career.

This is true not only of drinking but also of all kinds of substance abuse, sexual immorality as well as cheating, lying and stealing.

Of course, more importantly, the consequences of our choices are not only reflected in time but can impact our eternal destination. C. S. Lewis was right when he wrote, “Satan wants us to think as little as possible about the eternal consequences of our actions.

“Be sure your sin will find you out”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman