DIFFERENT OUTCOMES

The power within a flame does not always have the same effect. A flame can be destructive and uncontrolled as when a forest fire blackens thousands of acres or when a fire devastates a home. Contained in a camp fire a flame can be a joy to watch as family and friends gather to talk. A flame can be used to prepare a meal. The fire within a furnace can warm a house on a cold winter day. Fire can soften metals or it can harden clay.

Sorrow is much like a flame. Our distress can be an emotion that is destructive filling our lives with bitterness and regret. However the sadness that comes into our lives need not be harmful. The value of sorrow depends upon how our spirits respond to it.

• Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
  2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV

Worldly sorrow brings death. When we are caught in our sin we may know that what we have done is wrong, but still be drawn to the pleasure of sin. Such sorrow eats away at our spirits with inner conflict and eventually hardens our heart to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

For some their hearts have turned as hard as rock and they only regret being discovered in their sin. When they are caught in the act they are only sorry that their character has been tarnished. As when King Saul wanted Samuel to offer sacrifices with him so he could still look good in the eyes of the people, some people just put up a front to try to preserve their reputation. Their spiritual pride separates them from God and their regret is soon forgotten covered by their own self importance. Such sorrow works death.

Godly sorrow brings life! Such sadness works repentance into our lives. We turn from our sin and find God’s mercy and grace. His forgiveness restores our fellowship with God and in turn godly sorrow renews our relationships with our fellow man.

Godly sorrow brings such a transformation to our lives that we never live to regret our sorrow. As repentance grows our sorrow diminishes. Though we grieve over our sin for a time, we enjoy the blessings of repentance more and more. All things have been made new. Such sorrow brings life.

Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, each are the same emotion. But the end results are very different. What do you think?