THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN
The late preacher and author, Vance Havner, wrote, “Some time ago a friend of mine took me to a restaurant where they must have loved darkness rather than light. I stumbled into a dimly-lit cavern, fumbled for a chair, and mumbled that I needed a flashlight in order to read the menu. Gradually, however, I began to make out objects a little more clearly. My host said, ‘Funny, isn’t it, how we get used to the dark’? We are living in the dark…and we get used to it. There is a slow, subtle, sinister brainwashing process going on, and by it we are gradually being desensitized to evil. Little by little, sin is made to appear less sinful, until the light within us becomes darkness – and how great is that darkness!”
Hebrews 3:13 warns of “the deceitfulness of sin.” The word “deceitfulness” refers to a trick, stratagem, or delusion. Andrew Murray stated, “All sin is deceit.” Alexander Pope described the gradual process:
“Vice is a monster of such frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”
Ayn Rand, who was an atheist, wrote a long passage in The Fountainhead on how to wreck a society. One of the rules she cites is to teach the people to laugh at everything, including the sacred and sinful. Proverbs 14:9 states, “Fools mock at sin.” Marketing sin under a different label is a very effective tool of the devil. Today, lying is merely “stretching the truth.” Lusting is “healthy admiration.” Sexual perversion of all types is described as “practicing under God-given alternate lifestyles.” The killing of the unborn is termed “pro-choice” and “planned parenthood.” Advocating that there is no absolute truth is accepted as “broadminded tolerance.” To stand for Biblical truth of right and wrong is called “intolerant.” The promoting of pluralism (many paths to Heaven), is called “loving and open-minded”, yet those who advocate that Christ is the only Way to eternal life are labeled as “bigots.” Isaiah warned, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (5:20). Jeremiah stated, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination. No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush,” (Jeremiah 6:15). The warning of Dr. E. M. Blaiklock needs heeding, “Our greatest security against sin is to be shocked by it.”
Christ revealed, “Men love darkness rather than light,” John 3:19. A man in his village went out and gathered a pail of figs. He brought them into his hut that evening, lit a candle, and took a fig out of his pail. After biting into it, he discovered half a worm. He threw the fig out the door, and took another fig. After biting into the second fig, he again discovered half a worm. He threw the fig out the door, and tried a third time. Once again, there was half a worm. So he blew out his candle and enjoyed the rest of his figs in the dark. “Man has become naturalized in unnatural sin.”
Dave Arnold, Pastor, Gulf Coast Worship Center, New Port Richey, Florida
www.davidarnoldonline.org
Ayn Rand, who was an atheist, wrote a long passage in The Fountainhead on how to wreck a society. One of the rules she cites is to teach the people to laugh at everything, including the sacred and sinful. Proverbs 14:9 states, “Fools mock at sin.” Marketing sin under a different label is a very effective tool of the devil. Today, lying is merely “stretching the truth.” Lusting is “healthy admiration.” Sexual perversion of all types is described as “practicing under God-given alternate lifestyles.” The killing of the unborn is termed “pro-choice” and “planned parenthood.” Advocating that there is no absolute truth is accepted as “broadminded tolerance.” To stand for Biblical truth of right and wrong is called “intolerant.” The promoting of pluralism (many paths to Heaven), is called “loving and open-minded”, yet those who advocate that Christ is the only Way to eternal life are labeled as “bigots.” Isaiah warned, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (5:20). Jeremiah stated, “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination. No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush,” (Jeremiah 6:15). The warning of Dr. E. M. Blaiklock needs heeding, “Our greatest security against sin is to be shocked by it.”
Christ revealed, “Men love darkness rather than light,” John 3:19. A man in his village went out and gathered a pail of figs. He brought them into his hut that evening, lit a candle, and took a fig out of his pail. After biting into it, he discovered half a worm. He threw the fig out the door, and took another fig. After biting into the second fig, he again discovered half a worm. He threw the fig out the door, and tried a third time. Once again, there was half a worm. So he blew out his candle and enjoyed the rest of his figs in the dark. “Man has become naturalized in unnatural sin.”
Dave Arnold, Pastor, Gulf Coast Worship Center, New Port Richey, Florida
www.davidarnoldonline.org
4 comments:
When we fail to be shocked by sin, we are being drawn in, I think. All under the guise of 'tolerance.' I think if you held this message up to political platforms, some definitive choices would have to be made by Christians.
I agree...the more you sin, the more it ruins your mind to the things of God...
Truth...the soil you till is in the garden that grows...
Once again, there was half a worm.
I kept thinking, "Why didn't he spit out the other half of the worm?", it had to be in his mouth, right? What we don't know can't hurt us? Or is it what we refuse to see? Oh the deceitfulness of sin and the wickedness of the heart.
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