Forgiveness is NOT about avoiding “punishment”.
Forgiveness is all about rebuilding relationship.
When I break God’s law, I can seek His forgiveness and with Him, the eternal slate is wiped clean because of Jesus. It is Jesus who bore God’s wrath and took my punishment for me, and God has promised to remember my sins no more.
But, all too often, this can lead us to think forgiveness should wipe away ALL consequences as well. We then make the mistake of believing that God is punishing us for our sins, when we are merely reaping the fruit we have sown.
There is always damage from transgression. If I do something to violate another person’s trust, I can repent and seek forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the first step in rebuilding the relationship with that person, but it will take time to regain trust and see full restoration.
In addition to trust, I will still have to face all the temporal consequences of my actions.
If I have broken man’s law, then I will still have to face man’s judgment system.
If I have abused and not taken care of my body, then I will have to deal with the possibility of disease and/or disability.
If I have sinned against another person, then I may never regain the same level of relationship I had.
If my sin has caused death, then I, and others, will have to deal with the loss.
Follow up from Getting What You Deserve