Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Gal 6:7 NKJV).  

As fallen human beings, we face a frustrating dilemma. We can pick our sin but not our consequences. Baptist minister Charles Stanley always says: “you reap what you sow, more than you sow and later than you sow”.

First, there are always consequences, good or bad, when we decide on something. That is why we are told not to lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge Him in our decision-making processes. If we do, He has promised to direct our paths (Prov 3:5-6). Second, the consequences are always greater than we think. We often think that we can “get away” with compromises and white lies. This was the case with Ananias and Saphira when they lied to the Holy Spirit about their possessions (Acts 5:1-11). Finally, the consequences may not be felt or seen immediately. However, eventually our sin will find us out (Numb 32:23). From my own experience, I can say that sin is the greatest detective I know of.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:57 NKJV). Fortunately, the above-described principle works in reverse also. The deceptive process of sin is described in James 1:14-15. If we think about these