Forgiveness and Restoration

So let’s look at forgiveness and restoration from God’s point of view, shall we?
God forgave Adam and Eve but He did not ‘restore’ them to the Garden of Eden.
This world is still plunged into sin.
Actions have consequences.
God forgave Abraham for his liaison with Hagar but He didn’t restore him as the husband of one wife or remove Ishmael as his son.
The Middle East is still at war.
Actions have consequences.
God forgave Moses for murder but He didn’t restore him as Prince of Egypt.
Moses still spent 40 years in the desert learning humility.
Actions have consequences.
God forgave David for adultery with Bath-Sheba but He didn’t restore his baby’s life.
The baby still was taken.
Actions have consequences.
Jesus forgave the thief on the cross but He didn’t remove the penalty of the law of the land.
The thief still died on the cross that day.
Actions have consequences.
To claim that ‘I’m sorry’ should erase any consequences of your actions is not biblical.  Forgiveness does not and has not ever meant you erase any hurt that was caused or any results of your actions. Forgiveness is for the one who was hurt. God chooses to forgive us for HIS sake. Yes He restores us as His children. Yes He removes our sins as far as the east is from west. But He does not ever remove the consequences in this life. Only in the next.
Just some thoughts I had this morning.