The Deceitfulness of Sin

Sin is very deceitful, alluring, and ensnaring.  Hebrews 3:13 says that we are to "Exhort one another daily…lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."  With many people sin is first abhorred, then as people become more comfortable with it, sin is tolerated, and then it is embraced.  But why is sin so openly embraced by so many?  It is because they have not been properly taught the word of God.  People, who become so involved in sin, do not want to listen or receive God’s word.  People, because of sin become "past feeling" (Ephesians 5:19), because they have "their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2).  As the morality level of this nation declines, the church is also affected and has become more comfortable with sin.  As Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:13, "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse."  Satan wants us to become complacent with sin so he can help us to be lost with him in the burning fires of a real Hell.

     There seems to be no shame today by those who participate in sin.  Jeremiah 6:15 says, "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?  No, they were not at all ashamed, nor did they know how to blush."  The modern world is rapidly casting aside all moral restraints.  They want to "call evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20).  As or Lord says in Matthew 13:15, "For the hearts of this people have grown dull.  Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed."  Sin first has its beginning with lust.  "Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin when it is finished brings forth death" (James 1:15).  This is spiritual death, which is eternal separation from God.

     There are no little sins or big sins.  In God’s eyes all sin is sin.  There is no difference.  Homosexuality and adultery (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), murder and lying (Revelation 21:8), or prejudice (James 2:9) are all sins that will cause us to be lost.  But these and any other sins which are not forgiven will cause us to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone along with Satan and "tormented day and night forever and ever" (Revelation 20:10, 15).  Also we dare not try to justify anyone in their sin because, "He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both are an abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 17:15).

     But how do we protect ourselves from sin?  We are to "Lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us" (Hebrews 12:1).  We must "Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good" (Romans 12:9).  We are not to be "conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).  How do we renew our mind to protect ourselves from sin?  "Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalms 119:11).  And then we must "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22), because "To him that knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin" (James 4:17).  The terror of the Lord awaits those who because of sin are unprepared to meet Him in the Judgment.  Let’s not be deceived by sin.                       - Ron Boatwright