Sin is a deadly disease that infests the entire body from head to foot, from heart to hand, it leaves nothing untouched and no soul is ever left behind. And no man can escape its all-encompassing grasp. No amount of good deeds, physical purgatorial rites, philosophical meanderings, religious rituals, and no new age mumbo-jumbo regurtitated ancient teachings repackaged anew for the modern-day seeker. Sin is nonescapable except through death, and then it becomes far worse in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Pyrosinia.
The Scriptures have much to say on the human condition related to the direct effects of sin, and it would do the reader well to think about the dire results of continuing to live and practice sin before that hour arrives when least expected. Then you must face the consequences of living a lawless life by ignoring the Law and commands of a holy God whose offer of forgiveness through His Son whom you chose to despise. It will become the absolutely worst day in your existence as you face a wrathful God who will be both your judge and executioner.
Of course, most of you reading this will smirk and brush my words off as you smugly refute the mere thought of impending judgment, but you do so at your own risk. I will not play word games with stubborn hearts anchored in sin, but I will expose the sins that keep you in darkness, and let you decide the case, whether it has a bearing on the truth or the needle points elsewhere. It is, afterall, your decision. And all decisions carry consequences, even after death.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. - book of Romans.
That call was given by Peter on the day of Pentecost to a large crowd of startled worshippers who had heard a mighty strange noise and had gathered to know more of it, and thus Peter and the other disciples of the Lord began to exhort the people to turn to the Lord Jesus and repent. And around 3,000 believed on the name of Jesus in that hour and were saved from the wrath of God through that very faith. And that same exact offer is made to the sinner today, if only they would turn from their sins and believe, and belief is becoming a rare commodity, even among believers.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. - book of Luke.
Those who love sin are walking in perpetual darkness, and as now known, they hate the light which is Jesus Christ. As they did to him so shall they do to those who follow Him. But for those who choose to believe the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ, they have a new and living hope, if they hold firm unto the end, and that end can still be a ways off.
Sin is unlimited in its shapes, sizes and actions for it stems from the heart, and the heart can be very deceitful, and always is because the preservation of self is its highest priority. Sin is sugar-coated with toxins, many which remain unknown to man, and the results are always the same: death. Sure, you may cry out to one of the many demons who masqurede as gods in all religions, but they can’t help you for that is not their goal. Their goal is to corrupt and destroy you, and they will if you do not turn to Jesus as the Father has commanded all men to do.
The works of darkness are revealed through the sins committed, and every time the Law is broken, sin rears its ugly head and points the accusing finger, sinner and saint alike for none can escape the the flesh. The works of our flesh are obvious, but to clarify the deadliness of sin, I will list some of them as the Bible calls them out. And there is no one alive who does not sin.
Homosexuality of both genders, unrighteous, fornicating, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, filled with envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. - book of Romans. Idolater, railer, drunkard, extortioner. - book of 1 Corinthians. There are, naturally much more, but this should suffice for the time being for I know that you are not ignorant of these things for we all are and have been guilty of committing these sins.
Sin is like a raging fire that no firefighter in the world could ever quench because we are born with it, it’s in our nature to be rebellious, self-centered, demanding, and lawless. Sin cannot be tamed no matter how eloquent the speech, the skills that are posessesd, the color of the skin or texture, the IQ’s or lack of them, it does not matter because sin rules inperiously over all flesh. Heart, mind and tongue are the servants of sin, and the end is death to everyone who practices it.
There is only one way to be free and that is the way that the heavenly Father prescribed. That way is faith in Jesus Christ, His only Son. By believing in His name and the works he showed, you can be saved from the judgment of God, which will very soon fall upon all of humanity without fail. Jesus Christ does not live within a building adorned with a spire, brick facade, stained glass windows, comfortable seats and a wonderful choir. No, but rather his body is comprised of living stones fit together world-wide, one believer is one living stone, and membership in a denonmination is not a requirement, faith is.
Every denomination expects its congregation to adhere to their forms of dogmas and creeds, and freewill offerings are taken without fail to cover the many expenses incured, especially administrative. However, the church is where two or more are gathered in His name, meaning to worship freely in any given place, for an example, at your homes, sheds, barns or even forest glades and fields. But to “worship” God on a pagan Sunday in violation of the fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath on the seventh is not being faithful. This is another prime example of disobedience in action by the unfaithful to the commandments but faithful to men. Hence, the coined phrase, the unfaithful faithful.
And sin is the raging fires fueling disobedience, hence Pyrosinia.
If you choose to continue in sin, and ignore the wrnings of God to turn back, it’s called free will, then that is your choice. Just know for certain that once that curtain falls, it’s over. Your choice was made and now you will have to face the consequences of your actions, and without the shed blood of Jesus Christ that would have taken away your sins or lawless works, you will stand naked and covered with filthy rags, which will be your sins, before a holy and righteous Creator with no intercessor on your behalf. It won’t go down in your favor.
And for this reason, because God, the Creator loves you, he has provided the way out of the impending judgments about to befall mankind, for God is not only judgment but love, not as man loves but as only the heavenly Father can. And that love was proven when His Son, Jesus, the name by which we know him, volunteered to pay the price of sin for all humanity because of that exceeding great love. This is the only door, the only way to escape the fiery judgments of God, through faith in the Name of Jesus Christ and by believing in His redemptive work on the cross at Golgotha, also known as the place of the skull.
Now, this world will do everything to keep you in bondage to sin, and away from Jesus, and the devil and his legions are many and are of far greater intelligence and strength than any man alive, and their evil works are seen throughout this world and their influences unparalleld upon mankind. They will throw everything that you can imagine and then some to wrest your mind away from Christ and keep you distracted with every conceivable temptation without you even being aware. But know this: when you begin to think about Christ, pay attention to what happens around you. The evil one will immediately cast stones before you, and to steal away the seeds given to you if you allow him to. Beware and be paying very close attention.
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world , and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty. - book of Matthew.
Receiving the faith in Jesus is one thing, retaining it in this world is another. You can receive the faith and still not make it because you let sin deceive you, and far too many believers have done just that, they are living compromising lives with sin, and that is an open death sentence for God will not be mocked by man. You need to understand and count the cost of discipleship and be willing to pay the price. For what they did to Jesus they will do to those following Him as well. There is a high price to pay for the faith, and sadly many believers are thinking that it doesn’t apply to them, but if they continue to compromise with sin, tragedy will strike. Sin is very deceptive and tasteful and pleasurabel, for a time until the poisons begin to eat away at your mind and body. And those who work in the medical field can easily attest to the physical breakdowns of the body, and that is also a result of sin’s labors. Sin is not just a state of mind, it has real effets upon the entire spectrum of the human experience.
Forget the films, books, and internet as they present mankind’s future. They are mere illusions and delusions cast upon a colored screen. Pick up your Bible and begin reading on page one. Learn true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding before that wicked one comes and snatches away the seeds given to you.
I remain a brother in the faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Edward L Ordway