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| Actor Edwin Booth as Hamlet, 1870 |
I would like to consider another question in this post, and that is: to sin or not to sin. I recently wrote to someone who was seeking God and wanting to know the truth, but who kept putting off giving his life to Jesus and being born again. I asked him why it is that man delays being saved when salvation is a free gift from God and it is so simple. It only takes a short time to repent and give your life to Jesus, so why does man put it off for later, when he knows that is what he needs to do? He replied to me that he supposed it is because it is easier to sin than not to sin. Therefore, I'd like to address that notion that it is easier to sin than not to sin. The lessons to be learned from this study apply not only to non-believers who are considering the claims of Christ, but also to believers who are already following Christ as their Lord and Savior.
To Sin
First let's approach the matter from the perspective that most people assume to be true, which is the one that assumes it is easier to sin. Is that really true? Well, that is what the devil wants people to believe. He has led the whole world astray and deceived mankind into thinking it is actually easier to sin than not to sin. How does he do that? There are various ways that satan lures people into sinning, in order to kill, steal and destroy. Three of his most common ones involve deception, temptation, and intimidation.
DeceptionThe devil is the father of lies and he does not stand in the truth. He was a murderer from the beginning. For Jesus said of the devil, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (Joh 8:44).
As the father of lies, the devil is a master of deception. According to Webster's dictionary, to deceive means "To mislead the mind; to cause to err; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose on; to delude." It also may mean to cheat someone or rob them. He misleads the minds of people to cause them to err and believe what is false or disbelieve what is true. He misleads the minds of people to believe that it's easier to sin, and it is harder not to do so. He deludes people into thinking that the easiest thing to do is just give in to their desires to do wrong.
For example, if a person's weakness is drinking alcohol, he will mislead their mind into thinking that it would be easier to consume those beverages, convincing them that it will make them feel better. He uses the same approach with drugs. And in fact it may make them feel better temporarily, but the devil does not tell people about the immediate and long-term effects of their sin that will ruin their lives and the lives of others. He does not tell them about the hangover they will have the next morning with its headache, dizziness or vomiting, or about the fact that it will cost them a lot of money that will leave them in poverty. He doesn't tell them about the motor vehicle accident they may have while driving drunk that may kill another human being, even someone they love. He doesn't tell them about the humiliation, the shame it will cause, the pain, and the trouble they will have with the law, losing their license, being fined, or even sent to jail for the rest of their lives. He doesn't tell them about the loss of their job that may result from their substance abuse habit or about the loss of their marriage, their children, or their health.
He convinces them that they can handle it and they don't really have a problem with substance abuse. He convinces them that they are a good person and that they will make it to heaven. He doesn't tell them that they will spend eternity with him in hell.
In fact, he also misleads people into disbelieving that which is true, such as the short and long-term consequences of their sin. The truth he convinces them to disbelieve may be the obvious negative effects that occur as a result of their sin during this lifetime, which we don't have to read the Bible to know about (e.g., liver cirrhosis, AIDS, divorce, etc), and he may also mislead them to disbelieve or twist spiritual truths found in the Word of God (e.g., the gospel, heaven, hell, etc). He may convince someone that since they are religious, or a person who does a lot of good for others, that God will overlook their sin and not punish them for it. He may convince them that they will still go to heaven and escape hell, because their good works will supposedly outweigh their sins. Or he may delude them to disbelieve that hell even exists.
There are countless ways he can deceive. Sometimes he does it directly by invisible demons speaking to their minds, but he can also use other people like friends, family, spiritual leaders, role models, culture, literature, media, music, and a host of other possible ways including demons disguised as humans. While the devil tries to convince people that sin is precious gold, it is actually only fool's gold. It is just rocks painted to look like gold, but it is not genuine. In the end, those who are fooled by him end up with nothing but a handful of gravel.
Temptation
As I said, another one of his tactics is temptation. According to Webster's dictionary, to tempt means "To incite or solicit to an evil act; to entice to something wrong by presenting arguments that are plausible or convincing, or by the offer of some pleasure or apparent advantage as the inducement." This is closely connected with deception, and may involve deception, but is a separate action of its own.
The devil may incite a person to say something cruel, hurtful, or mean to another person, such as a friend, neighbor, enemy, or even someone they love. He may present the argument that they will feel a lot better if they tell the person what they are thinking and how they are feeling at that moment. He may tempt the person to enjoy having feelings of hatred toward the other person, or harbor unforgiveness toward someone who has hurt them. He may solicit someone to engage in sexually immoral behavior with another person my making strong arguments for the immediate pleasure they will experience. Again, he has countless ways to tempt people by presenting some apparent advantage as an enticement or inducement to sin.
In my article, The Temptation of Christ, I explained how he tempted the Lord Jesus during His earthly life and how the Lord resisted his temptations. He has been tempting man for thousands of years, ever since he tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden to eat the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 3:1-6). He tempted David to commit adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, which led to David having Uriah murdered, in order to take his wife from him and cover up his sin. And as I explained in my article, Sin and Consequence, David's sin with Bathsheba cost him very dearly by the serious consequences that arose from it afterward and troubled him for the rest of his life. Although God forgave him when he repented, it left a trail of problems in its wake including rape and rebellion in his family.
James wrote: "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." (Jas 1:13-15). And you can be sure that the devil and his demons are behind temptation.
Therefore, you cannot overcome temptation in your own strength, since you are up against a powerful spiritual enemy. You need supernatural power to resist, and that is why Jesus said, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mt 26:41, NIV).
Intimidation
Another key tactic that the devil uses against humans to kill, steal, and destroy is intimidation. According to Webster's dictionary, to intimidate means "To make fearful; to inspire with fear; to dishearten; to abash." To abash means "To make the spirits to fall; to cast down the countenance; to make ashamed; to confuse or confound, as by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, error, inferiority, etc." All of these are part of what I mean by intimidation. The devil likes to scare people and make them fearful in order to cause them to sin. He also likes to discourage people and get them down, make them feel ashamed, confused, guilty, or inferior.
For example, when Moses sent the twelve spies to spy out the Promised Land, they saw the giants there and ten of the spies came back with an evil report for Moses. They were fearful of the giants and felt inferior to them. They were disheartened from going into the Promised Land. The devil still does the same thing today. He may intimidate someone into thinking they could never live for God, that they could never live a righteous or holy life. He may intimidate them into thinking that if they confess their sin, everyone would look down upon them and they would be rejected. He uses guilt and shame like that to keep people trapped all their lives in a perpetual cycle of sin. He may intimidate someone into thinking that they will go to jail if they confess to the police what they have done, or he may intimidate someone into thinking that people will reject them if they testify for Christ, or that they will lose their job for it, and that without a job their family would starve. He may intimidate someone to commit sin out of fear of being hurt by others. He may scare someone into denying Christ out of fear of being killed.
However, the Lord Jesus said, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Mat 10:28)
Those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior can say with David: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?" (Psa 27:1)
Therefore, the devil often uses one or more of these three weapons against people: deception, temptation, and intimidation. And he often uses more than one of them together to increase his effectiveness. All of these explain why he is able to convince people that it is easier to sin. It's no wonder people actually believe the lie that it is easier to sin.
Instant Gratification
Another reason why someone may consider it easier to sin is that it is a means of instant gratification. Since they get to immediately fulfill their lust or craving, or get relief from their feelings, they find it easier to cope that way. Of course, this is a very myopic view that fails to consider the broader picture of what happens after that.
Slaves of Depravity
Another reason that a person may consider it easier to sin is that before a person comes to Christ, he is a slave to sin, therefore he must sin, since he is compelled to do so (Ro 6:16). He is a child of the devil, who wants to carry out the desires of his father the devil (Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10). For a sinner, it is his nature to sin, so sin comes naturally to him. Sin reigns in his mortal body, so that he obeys its lusts (Ro 6:12). He is a slave to the one he obeys, which is sin, resulting in death. "For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (2Pe 2:19b, NIV). Sinners have a ruthless taskmaster who never relents, never has enough, and is never satisfied, but always requires more. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can set sinners free from that bondage, and until He does so, it may be difficult or impossible for them to imagine what it would be like to be free.
Loving the Darkness
Another reason that man thinks it is easier to sin is that he loves darkness rather than light. Jesus said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." (Jn 3:19, NIV). So when people love darkness, they enjoy their sin too much to part with it.
Not only do they love darkness, but they hate the light, so that explains why it seems harder to them not to sin. Jesus said, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." (Jn 3:20, NIV). The reason they hate the light is they are afraid that their evil deeds will be exposed. They don't want to come under conviction for sin or be reproved. Therefore, they remain in the darkness and demonstrate no remorse, no regret, and no repentance. There is no departing from iniquity.
Walking in Darkness
Furthermore, those who are walking in darkness do not know what makes them stumble. "But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Pr 4:19, NIV). Before a person comes to Christ, he doesn't truly understand the reasons why he does the things he does, which are actually sinful in God's sight. He is bound to keep stumbling over and over in sin, until He comes into the light to Christ. As Jesus said, "Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” (Jn 11:9b-10, NIV). Therefore, the man walking in darkness feels that it is easier just to keep stumbling than not to stumble.
Now let's consider the other point of view, which is based on God's Word.
Instant Gratification
Another reason why someone may consider it easier to sin is that it is a means of instant gratification. Since they get to immediately fulfill their lust or craving, or get relief from their feelings, they find it easier to cope that way. Of course, this is a very myopic view that fails to consider the broader picture of what happens after that.
Slaves of Depravity
Another reason that a person may consider it easier to sin is that before a person comes to Christ, he is a slave to sin, therefore he must sin, since he is compelled to do so (Ro 6:16). He is a child of the devil, who wants to carry out the desires of his father the devil (Jn 8:44; 1 Jn 3:10). For a sinner, it is his nature to sin, so sin comes naturally to him. Sin reigns in his mortal body, so that he obeys its lusts (Ro 6:12). He is a slave to the one he obeys, which is sin, resulting in death. "For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” (2Pe 2:19b, NIV). Sinners have a ruthless taskmaster who never relents, never has enough, and is never satisfied, but always requires more. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can set sinners free from that bondage, and until He does so, it may be difficult or impossible for them to imagine what it would be like to be free.
Loving the Darkness
Another reason that man thinks it is easier to sin is that he loves darkness rather than light. Jesus said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." (Jn 3:19, NIV). So when people love darkness, they enjoy their sin too much to part with it.
Not only do they love darkness, but they hate the light, so that explains why it seems harder to them not to sin. Jesus said, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." (Jn 3:20, NIV). The reason they hate the light is they are afraid that their evil deeds will be exposed. They don't want to come under conviction for sin or be reproved. Therefore, they remain in the darkness and demonstrate no remorse, no regret, and no repentance. There is no departing from iniquity.
Walking in Darkness
Furthermore, those who are walking in darkness do not know what makes them stumble. "But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Pr 4:19, NIV). Before a person comes to Christ, he doesn't truly understand the reasons why he does the things he does, which are actually sinful in God's sight. He is bound to keep stumbling over and over in sin, until He comes into the light to Christ. As Jesus said, "Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” (Jn 11:9b-10, NIV). Therefore, the man walking in darkness feels that it is easier just to keep stumbling than not to stumble.
Not To Sin
Let's look at the truth of the matter, which is that it is actually easier not to sin, once you come to Christ. This truth is simple to explain in light of all that I have just covered, up to this point. Considering the short-term and long-term consequences of sin that we experience during this life, as well as the eternal consequences, it is actually easier not to sin.
Momentary Nature of Sin
On the one hand, the pleasure derived from committing a sin is very brief and momentary when compared with the rest of a person's life. The pleasure of sin itself may last for a night, but then there are the painful difficulties and hardships it causes, which may endure for years or the rest of your life. A person could be crippled or maimed for life as a result of indulging in one moment of sinful pleasure. Sin lasts only for a season, and Moses was wise enough to choose to be afflicted with God's people than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.
The Scripture says, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;" (Heb 11:24-25, KJV).
Momentary Nature of Life
Not only is sin momentary, but life is also very brief, as I wrote in my article, Life is Short, Eternity is Not. When you compare this earthly life with eternity, it is like a short moment in time. Even if you live a long life to be eighty years old, that is nothing compared to eternity.
Even a long life like that would be as momentary as a vapor coming off of boiling water that quickly dissipates into the air, or like a morning fog that is soon gone when the heat of day consumes it. James said, "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (Jas 4:14).
For the psalmist said, "As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more." (Ps 103:15-16, NIV78).
It's actually much easier to enjoy abundant life in Christ. Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (Joh 10:10). Before I was saved, when I was living in sin, abusing drugs and alcohol, when I was confronted with the gospel, the devil tried to deceive me into believing that living for Jesus would be dreary and boring. I thought that I would never again enjoy fun times of hilarious laughter like I did when I was drunk or high on drugs. How foolish! That could not be farther from the truth!
Since I came to know Christ thirty-two years ago, I have experienced an abundant life in Christ filled with more joy, laughter, and fun than I could have ever imagined. There have been times when the Holy Spirit has come upon me and I have experienced a holy laughter that was pure and wonderful, unlike anything this world has to offer. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit and living the Spirit-filled life has been far more enjoyable than living that old life of sin and shame. I'm so glad I decided to give my life to Jesus and follow Him in this abundant life, rather than stay in sin. If I had remained in sin, I would never have come to know such joy unspeakable and full of glory! I would have probably ended up dead or in jail eventually, but instead he has blessed me with a wife and children and all the happy moments that we have enjoyed together. He has blessed me with the joy of preaching the gospel in countries around the world, as well as here in the United States, seeing people give their lives to Jesus. I have experienced the glory of His manifest presence, as well as the wonder of seeing people miraculously healed and set free from demons. I am able to sing and rejoice with a clear conscience. Nothing I had before Christ could ever compare with the abundant life He has given to me. The truth is that it's easier to live the abundant life than to live in sin.
Slaves of Righteousness
Those who have repented of their sins and come to Christ have been set free from sin and become slaves of righteousness. Paul said, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." (Rom 6:18, NIV). Now instead of being enslaved by sin, we are free from that master, and we have become slaves to obedience which leads to righteousness (Rom 6:16). Those who were once "slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness" now become "slaves to righteousness leading to holiness" (Rom 6:19). Those who were once free from the control of righteousness are now under its control. Paul said, "Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Rom 6:22, NIV). Therefore, a slave of sin will feel that it is easier to sin, while a slave of God receives His power to live a righteous life. Thus they do so, not in their own strength, but by His glorious grace.
Reaping What You've Sown
There is a basic principle that you reap what you've sown, and this holds true both in this present life, as well as the life to come. Paul said, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Gal 6:7-8). It's much easier to reap eternal life than eternal corruption.
Eternal Consequences of Sin
Consider all that a person trades for mere sin. It's not worth it, considering that sin is so brief and momentary and eternal punishment lasts forever. You're only hurting yourself to your own shame.
Jesus said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mar 8:36-37)
Hell is forever and there are no exits. There is nothing easy about it. Every moment is filled with pain, torment, sorrow, regret, loneliness, and fear. The intense heat is unbearable, and there is no water to drink, so there is nothing to quench your thirst. It's a place of outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt 8:12, 22:13, 25:30), where the worms that eat them do not die, and the flames are never quenched (Mk 9:44,48).
You cannot repent after you die, and mercy is only available while you are on this earth, so you need to give that serious consideration. It is hard to suffer the punishment for sin for eternity in hell, and countless millions of people have already gone to that horrible place. They are ready to repent right now if they could just come back to earth for one minute. They believe in Jesus now. But it's too late for them. They had their chance. Now they must pay the price for all eternity, because the wages of sin is death.
You cannot repent after you die, and mercy is only available while you are on this earth, so you need to give that serious consideration. It is hard to suffer the punishment for sin for eternity in hell, and countless millions of people have already gone to that horrible place. They are ready to repent right now if they could just come back to earth for one minute. They believe in Jesus now. But it's too late for them. They had their chance. Now they must pay the price for all eternity, because the wages of sin is death.
The apostle Paul said, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom 6:23). And in Proverbs it says, “The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.” (Pro 10:16). In other words, the pay back that man gets for sin is just like the wages he earns for his labor. Wages are paid to you for what you do, so you earn them and you deserve them. That is why death is the pay back for sin. That means eternal separation from God, and it doesn't get any harder than that. As the proverb says, "the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction." (Pr 13:15b, NIV). And as the psalmist said, "The way of the wicked will perish." (Ps 1:6).
Eternal Rewards
On the other hand, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6:23). That means that you cannot earn eternal life, since it is a gift from God to you. He desires to give you this wonderful gift, but you cannot try to earn it through your own good works. Neither can you receive this gift unless you repent of your sin and believe on Jesus Christ. You must have a personal relationship with Him.
Peter said, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Act 2:38). Whether you are a non-believer or someone who has already given their life to Jesus who is backslidden in sin, you cannot be forgiven unless you repent. But if you will repent, then mercy is available for you, and you will be saved through faith in Christ. You need not perish in hell like so many others have.
God loves you and wants you to spend eternity with Him in heaven. He doesn't want you to perish. In fact, He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance. John said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (Joh 3:16). As I have said, eternal life is easier than perishing.
God has so many wonderful rewards for those who repent and follow Jesus. Those rewards are real and they are eternal, unlike the fool's gold that the devil offers. In heaven there is no death, no pain, no tears or sorrow (Rev 21:4). The city is made of pure gold, as pure as glass (Rev 21:18). Even the great street of the city is made of pure gold (Rev 21:21 ). It's walls are decorated with every kind of precious stone (Rev 21:19). The city shines brightly with the glory of God (Rev 21:11,23). There is a pure river of the water of life there that is clear as crystal, and there are many mansions (Jn 14:2). The tree of life is there, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month (Rev 22:2). There are countless myriads of holy angels, as well as the spirits of righteous men made perfect (Heb 12:22-23; Rev 5:11). There is no sin there, because nothing impure may enter that place, and nobody who does what is shameful or deceitful will ever enter it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Rev 21:27). God is reigning over the universe there on his throne at the center of it all, and Jesus Christ sits at his right hand with great power and glory -- with angels, powers, and authorities in submission to Him (1 Pe 3:22).
The apostle Peter said, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you," (1Pe 1:3-4).
Nothing Can Compare
Some gospel songs come to mind that express what I am trying to say, such as the one that says:
"Lord, You are more precious than silver
More costly than gold.
Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,
And nothing I desire compares with You."
Truly nothing I desire compares with Jesus. Another song goes:
"He is fairer than the lily of the valley
He is brighter than the morning star
He is purer than the snow
Fresher than the breeze
Lovelier by far than all of these."
Those of us who've come to know the Lord know firsthand that when you look into His holiness,
and gaze into His loveliness, when you've found the joy of reaching His heart, all things that surround you here on earth become mere shadows in the light of Him. Everything else pales in comparison, as that song goes by Kent Henry, When I Look into Your Holiness.
The last lyrics I'd like to mention are from a song by Jim Reeves called I'd Rather Have Jesus, that goes like this:
"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold I'd rather be his than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
Yes I'd rather be led by his nail pierced hands
Than to be the king of a best domain and be held in sins dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today."
Putting it All Together
Having looked at the question of whether it is easier to sin than not to sin, we can easily conclude that it is actually easier not to sin, when you consider all things. The assumption that it is easier to sin is actually a false perception based on the instant gratification experienced by the flesh. However, it is not based on reality. Don't fall for the devil's deception, temptation, or intimidation. For he comes only to kill, steal, and destroy. He wants to take as many souls down to hell with him as he possibly can. Don't go to that horrible place!
Just as I said in my opening that it is a tragic mistake for anyone to commit suicide, it is just as tragic for anyone to remain in sin, because they will suffer the same fate. To sin or not to sin is just as profound a question as the one Shakespeare's character Hamlet asked. However, it is not just a question for some actor on stage in a fictitious drama, but a crucial question that every human being must face up to and decide for themselves what they are going to do. Perhaps you have either never given your life to Jesus, or you once did so and then returned to a life of sin, and this message has spoken to you. Dear friend, why should you perish?
Repent of your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus, listen to Him, put His words into practice, and do the will of God. Only those who follow Him will be saved (John 14:6). Only those who put His words into practice will be saved (Mt 7:24-27). Only those who do the will of God will be saved (Mt 7:21). The grace of God is not a license for you to sin (Rom 6:1). It teaches us to say "No!" to ungodliness (Tit 2:12).
Heaven is a glorious and beautiful place that is real, not fictitious. God wants you there with Him for eternity. He wants to give you eternal rewards and a glorified body. The rewards there will far outweigh anything this world or satan has to offer. But the only way to get there is to repent and follow Jesus all the days of your life. Whether you are a saved already or not, you need to know that it is not easier to sin. It is easier not to sin. While it may be a straight and narrow way, marked by sorrow, troubles, and afflictions, it will result in an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. It will result in glory, honor, and immortality. Let me encourage you to follow that way.
Attribution notice: Most Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, except where noted. Other Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan. The "Deception" painting © 2012 Danny Hahlbohm of Inspired Art, all rights reserved by the artist.
Author's note: I also recommend reading my articles, The Evil Spirit of Alcohol, Sin and Consequence, The Dangers of Disobedience, Life is Short, Eternity is Not, Sins That Will Keep You From Heaven, The Forgotten Sin of Worldliness, The Kingdom of Darkness, Demonology 101, Pleasing the Lord, Piercing the Darkness, The Book of Life, Demons Disguised as Humans, Rock, Rap, and Reggae Music -- Five Divine Revelations, Alcohol and Cigarettes -- Ten Divine Revelations, Angelica Zambrano Hell and Heaven, and Godly Attire & Adornment -- Seven Divine Revelations, Spiritual Warfare, as well as the articles available through the Home page of this blog. You may access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org
