The Sad Results Of Rebellion

“Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten the fruit I commanded you not to eat?” Genesis 3:11

One of the hardest facts of life to accept is that rebellion always leads to death. In some way and to some degree, our every act of rebellion produces death: the death of our emotions, the death of our decision-making ability, the death of our relationships, and sometimes physical death.

Adam and Eve didn’t realize they were changing the entire course of human history when they ate the forbidden fruit. Randy didn’t know he was ruining his life when he first tried drugs. Bill didn’t know that his first beer at seventeen years of age would result in a lifelong struggle with alcoholism.

Steve didn’t realize that giving in to one temptation would result in the death of his family relationships. Steve was frustrated with the way his wife made decisions and felt he couldn’t really communicate with her. When he met a woman named Joan, he thought he had found the deepest friendship of his life. He didn’t think his relationship with her would progress any further than a friendship, but when the opportunity came for him to be more than friends with her, he didn’t resist.

Steve didn’t think about the hurt his rebellion would cause his family. And he didn’t hear his youngest daughter’s request during a Sunday school prayer time: “Please pray for me. Another family stole my daddy.”

Rebellion will always hurt. It hurts the man who rebels, and it hurts those who are close to him. Worst of all, it hurts his relationship with God.

When you are tempted to rebel—and you will be tempted—ask yourself if giving in to that temptation is worth bringing death on yourself and on your loved ones. Then ask yourself if it’s worth doing the same to your relationship with God.

Lord, keep me from any hint of rebellion, for rebellion always brings death to me and to those I care about.