What happens when we break God’s laws

Often I’m asked, “Do you believe AIDS is the result of God’s judgment on homosexuality?” or, “Do you believe herpes is His judgment on sexual promiscuity?” My answer is...yes. I do. And I believe God also judges every lie we tell, every act of thievery we commit, and every prideful thought we entertain. When sin is committed—public or private—we can be sure that judgment will follow. How do I know? The Bible tells me so. And if I could not read, the very universe would echo what His holy word teaches.

We live in an ordered, moral universe, and when we break God’s laws there are inevitable consequences. Suppose I had a little boat, and I told you I planned to sail it across the ocean. Then suppose I went on to say that I had no charts, no navigational devices, no knowledge of the stars and no clue about sailing. “How are you going to get across the ocean?” you might legitimately ask. “I’m just going to do it any way I choose,” I would answer. And very likely you would shake your head and walk away thinking I was a very, very stupid man. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or in this case, a maritime scholar) to predict the outcome of my ill-planned voyage. My little boat (and its sailor, yours truly) would no doubt become fish food at the bottom of the sea. Judgment is built into the very fabric of this world, and if I refuse to be led by the stars, I will eventually have to answer to the rocks. When we operate outside the moral parameters set in place by God in His word, we will ultimately be forced to deal with His wrath. It’s that simple.