Genesis 5:5;8;14;17;20;27;31 “…and then he died.”
America’s first televised game show was titled “Truth or Consequences.” On the show contestants were given a few seconds to respond to some trivia question before Beulah the Buzzer sounded. if they failed to respond accurately, they had to face a consequence for “not telling the truth.” Consequences typically required them to perform some kind of embarrassing stunt—all to the amusement of the audience.
I’m afraid we’ve become such a here-and-now world that we no longer consider the consequences of our actions. Especially when some people seem to skirt the repercussions of bad behavior. Wouldn’t it be lovely if a Beulah the Buzzer went off every time a politician veered from the truth?
Whether we acknowledge it or not, the truth never wavers. We will all face consequences for our choices. Either on earth or in eternity. An inconvenient truth initiated by our first parents.
Adam and Eve’s actions caused consequences to the human race that continue to reverberate. When they chose to disobey God and eat from the tree bearing knowledge of good and evil, they landed on the other side of Eden losing access to another tree—the tree of life.
The fifth chapter of Genesis affirms the devastating results. Beginning with Adam, it chronicles the genealogy from Adam to Noah. A sad refrain echoes through the account. No matter how many years a man lived or how many offspring he had, each name (with the exception of Enoch) ends with “and then he died.
Death has always been, and always will be, the final consequence of sin. But what happens after death reflects the ultimate consequence of the choices we make in this life: our eternal destiny.
Some ask, “How could a good God throw people into hell?” (Even CS Lewis said he wished he could throw out the doctrine of hell. But scripture wouldn’t let him). Contrary to common misperceptions, those in hell, are not thrown into it, they choose it. They want to be free from God and God grants their desire.
But those who choose truth face a far different outcome. In heaven, they will live forever in the presence of the One who paid the consequences for their sins. There will be no Beulah the Buzzers reminding them of all their bad choices. Just redemption.
And that’s the truth!