In 1975, famed children’s author Judy Blume published a controversial YA novel titled Forever… This was a fictional story of teenage sexual awakening that included some rather illicit scenes. I have never read this book, nor do I plan to, nor do I suggest you do it either. This post is not a book review. What I want to consider is one of the questions raised by the story:
Is it possible for there to be no consequences for sin?
When asked her intent with Forever…, Blume responded:
“My daughter Randy asked for a story about two nice kids who have sex without either of them having to die. She had read several novels about teenagers in love. If they had sex the girl was always punished—an unplanned pregnancy, a hasty trip to a relative in another state, a grisly abortion . . . sometimes even death. Lies. Secrets. At least one life ruined . . . . I wanted to present another kind of story—one in which two seniors in high school fall in love, decide together to have sex, and act responsibly.
Indeed, many have lauded the book for giving a more “realistic” look at teenage sex. But is it realistic? Can two people engage in sex outside of marriage and not endure any encounter any ramifications?
The question doesn’t just apply to sexual sin. Many of us look at our options as, “Yes, that would be awful if [list specific consequence here] happened, but…what if it doesn’t? Would it be worth it then?”
Let’s ponder whether you truly can escape all consequences of sin.
Hey, I’m Lauren, author of YA Christian fiction and
blogger for teens ready to level up in faith.
Subscribe for inspiring content and free YA ebooks!
In This Article
Consequences As Understood By the General Population
From an early age, you learned about something called “natural consequences,” even if you didn’t know what it was called. Touch the stove and you’ll burn your finger. Jump in the deep end without knowing how to swim and you’ll sink. Cross that fence and you’ll be bitten by the neighbor’s man-eating dog.
Natural consequences are the outcomes that naturally occur as a result of your actions. Alternatively, time-outs, being grounded, and getting a speeding ticket are “logical consequences,” doled out by an authority figure as a result of your behavior.
The most commonly cited natural consequences of sex outside of marriage are pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. When parents and teachers preach about saving sex, the natural consequences are often flashed like a red flag as a way of scaring teens into compliance.
Don’t roll your eyes. These are very real and serious possibilities, even with modern birth control, monogamous dating, and “safe” sex practices. But it would be foolish for me to say they will automatically happen to you if you choose to be intimate with your boyfriend or girlfriend. For some, the odds of these not happening are worth the gamble.
Natural consequences exist for all sins, but they aren’t guaranteed. If you drink and drive, you might kill someone (or yourself) or you might be fine. If you try to rob a home, you might face a well-armed homeowner with a highly trained Doberman. But you might not.
Serious, life-altering natural consequences could happen with virtually any sin. But they might not happen to you. You might have that beer, then drive home without incident. You might have sex multiple times and not end up with herpes or an unwanted pregnancy.
The odds are in your favor, right?
Except, sometimes the not-obvious consequences are the most detrimental.
Loss is a Consequence
When Super Bowl Sunday rolls around, most people claim a comfy spot on the sofa, surround themselves with their favorite snacks, and turn on the widescreen TV. After all, that’s the best way to watch a football game, right?
What if someone offered you tickets to attend the Super Bowl in person? Would you turn them down in favor of your threadbare couch? You might think couch-watching is the way to go simply because you’ve never experienced something better.
Or, if you’re not a football fan, how about the difference between watching a high school performance of Wicked versus seeing it live on Broadway? You might be content with your hometown troupe, but imagine how amazing it would be to witness a live performance by pros.
This is perhaps one of the most unrecognized consequences of sin: What could have been if you’d done it the right way. And what’s sad is, most of us are okay with missing out.
“This is good enough for me. Why do I need something better?”
“It’ll never be that good for me anyway so why bother?”
God knows what’s better and he offers it to you to accept or reject. He designed marriage and sex and gave us instructions on how to enjoy both to their highest potential. Yet too many people give up on their quest for the greater thing to cling to something cheaper. And they have no idea what they’re missing.
This applies to any vice you’re struggling with. While you’re clinging to the sin of profanity, anger, or gossip, you’re missing out on the awesomeness of letting God fulfill your deepest desires. And you can’t know what that’s like until you’ve experienced it.
When Something Great Is Cheapened
Going back to the topic of Forever…, I’m not against illicit scenes in media because I view sex as dirty and shameful. I’m against sexual content in the books I read and write because sex is too beautiful to be shared on a stage. It’s not a recreational activity for the entertainment of an audience. It’s an amazing, private experience between two people. And saying that two teens can engage in physical intimacy, responsibly or not, cheapens it by making it seem like it’s no more special than going to a movie or a basketball game.
And then it downplays the fact that, yes, there are consequences. You might escape the natural consequences, but there are spiritual consequences for sex outside of marriage.
The Consequences of Sin: Separation From God
Be wary when you sin and aren’t “caught” by natural consequences. You might be tempted to think you’ve gotten away with something—and that it was kind of fun and why not do it again?
But sometimes the real consequences of sin don’t show up until you reach heaven’s gate, and by then it’s too late.
Sin separates you from God. (See Isaiah 59.)It hardens your heart and sends you on a constant quest for a cheap high that eventually leads to permanent separation from God. Don’t brush it off, this is serious stuff.
Be grateful when the natural consequences of sin fall upon you because it’s a reminder to pull back. I bet if a lightning bolt struck every time you sinned, you wouldn’t do it so often.
Related – No Fear: The Danger of Sin in Your Heart
The Verdict: Is it Possible For There to Be No Consequences For Sin?
If you’re skimming and simply want the conclusion to the matter, here it is:
No, you cannot sin without consequence. If you choose sin, you will pay for it, somewhere, someday. Maybe not until eternity, which is perhaps the worst consequence of all.
Don’t forget, books like Forever… are categorized as fiction for a reason.
Moving On After Sin: Is it Too Late for Me?
Some of you reading this might be falling apart right now. Maybe you’ve already committed a big sin. Maybe you gave yourself away to your first boyfriend, or you took a drink at your first party and now you’re addicted. What now?
God doesn’t promise that the earthly consequences of your sin will vanish if you come to him in repentance. You might be truly sorry for becoming sexually active, but that won’t make the STI you’re dealing with disappear. David learned about consequences the hard way in 2 Samuel. His act of adultery resulted in a pregnancy he needed to hide, which led to the murder of an innocent man. God didn’t stop the snowball of consequences even when David was sorry.
But God promises to 1) be with you, and 2) take away your sin so you can enter into eternal life with him when your time comes. If you’re still living and breathing, it’s not too late for you to bring your brokenness before God and be made whole again.
Not sure how to do that? David has a few words for you to borrow.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalm 51:1-2
Psalm 51 was specifically written after the prophet Nathan came to confront David about his sin with Bathsheba (says so right in the Bible) and it goes through the whole process of presenting your faults to God:
- Plead for mercy (v. 1-2)
- Admit that you’ve done wrong (v. 3)
- Recognize that your sin is against God and he has the right to judge you (v. 4-6)
- Ask for forgiveness and cleansing from sin (v. 7-11)
- Ask to be renewed in the joy of your salvation (v. 12)
- Ask to be a tool for turning others back to God (v. 13)
- Praise Him (v. 14-19)
Number six is one many of us neglect: using what we’ve learned through our sin and the resulting consequences to bring others back to God. Have you ever considered that, despite the dark places your sin may have taken you, you could use it for good?
Yes, God allows you the opportunity to do that. Don’t let it slip by.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
Some posts to help you walk away from sin and reclaim the beautiful things you’ve been missing out on:
- Epic Faith: How to Deal With Guilt Over Lost Virginity
- Bad Landings: How to Move On After a Mistake
- Your Deepest Desires: The Truth About Habitual Sin
- No Excuses: A Challenge to Own Your Problems
