Mistakes always cost you one way or another. Sometimes there's a big payoff. Sometimes it costs us very little. Whatever the cost, there is always a lesson to be learned. The lesson is sometimes heeded and other times we have to learn it again. For some of us who take a little longer to learn, we may have to learn the lesson several times before we actually get it.
All of have made our fair share of mistakes. Yet, to be honest, it hasn't stopped us from making more mistakes. Making mistakes seems to be a part of life. And the hardest part about our mistakes is always the cost of the consequences. The problem is that we can't control the cost of our consequences. And sometimes, the consequences sadly affect other people who are innocent bystanders. It always saddens my heart to hear of someone killed by a drunk driver, especially if it was a child. The tragedy seems more than unfair to the victims.
King David, although a man after God's own heart, was far from perfect. We have a lot of fond stories of David, but his behavior wasn't always on the same page as God. In 2 Samuel 24, David, against the advice of his closest friends, decided to find out how powerful he really was by counting all his fighting men. He was flexing his muscles in the mirror to enhance his own ego. David was getting a little cocky and was more interested in his own strength, power, prestige, etc. than he was in seeking and trusting God.
After the census was taken, David realized his sin. But God brought a humbling punishment on him. He actually gave David a choice of punishments. David chose a three day plague over the land. 70,000 people died. David pleaded for forgiveness and for God to stop the death of his people. It happened that angel of the Lord was at the home of man named Araunah. So David was instructed through a prophet of God to go an build an altar to the Lord there and make a sacrifice.
David arrived at the farm of Araunah to build an altar. But Araunah wanted to supply everything for the altar and sacrifice. However, David insisted on paying him for the property and the animal to be sacrificed with these words, "I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."
David's mistake had cost many lives. He had felt the pain of his people, owned up to the mistake, pleaded for mercy and forgiveness, and coffed up the cash to pay for his mistake. We can't escape the consequences for our mistakes. But to right ourselves with God, we must be willing to admit them in genuine remorse, recognize our humaness, humbly beg for mercy and forgiveness, and be willing to pay retribution. David wasn't able to bring back the family members of those who died in the plague. But he did step up to the plate and did his best to reduce any further suffering to his/God's kingdom.
God, your mercy is so awesome. How we need you. How I need you. I would love to minimize the mistakes I make. The only way I know to do that is to learn to trust you more. But my learning process seems to involve making more mistakes. I find myself learning the hard way. Empower me by my your spirit to seek your path, to minimize my screw ups, and to be willing to own up to the mistakes I do make.
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