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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Dear Rev. Graham: I know there are consequences for our sinful actions but is it possible to escape the consequences if we start living differently? I want to know because my closest friend keeps messing up his life because he believes it’s too late to do any better. — B.L.

Dear B.L.: Sin is a terrible and destructive thing, and sometimes we have to pay the consequences for our foolishness and rebellion against God. He doesn’t promise that consequences of sin will vanish when we come to Him with repentant hearts and submit ourselves to Him, but He does promise to be with us.
The story of King David is well known. He sinned greatly when he committed adultery with another man’s wife. God forgave him when he truly repented and asked God for forgiveness, but the child born of that illicit union still died as an act of God’s judgment on David.
Now God does not always respond in the same way to the same circumstances, but He is sovereign and will use things in our lives to teach us about Him. There are times when God works in ways that are beyond our human understanding to bring healing and restoration, although none of us can predict when this will be the case or in what fashion He demonstrates His power. God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power (Ephesians 3:20).
The best we can do for those who suffer from their past is to tell them about the Savior, Jesus Christ, and show them through Scripture that He is ready to hear their prayer of repentance and be Lord of their lives. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)