The devil's daring falsehood

The devil's daring falsehood

(J. C. Ryle)

I can imagine nothing so pleasant to men, as the fallacious theory that we may live in sin--and yet escape eternal perdition; that although we "are slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures"while we are here in this world, we shall somehow or other, all get to heaven hereafter!

Only tell the young man who is "wasting his substance in riotous living," that there is a heaven at last, even for those who live and die in sin--and he is never likely to turn from evil. What does it signify how he lives, if there is no "future eternal punishment?" Why should he repent and take up the cross--if he can get to heaven at last without trouble?

Six thousand years ago, sin entered into the world by the devil's daring falsehood, "You shall not surely die!" (Genesis 3:4) At the end of six thousand years, the great enemy of mankind is still using his old weapon, and trying to persuade men that they may live and die in sin--and yet at some distant period may be finally saved! Let us not be ignorant of his devices. Let us walk steadily in the old paths. Let us hold fast the old truth, and believe that, as the happiness of the saved is eternal--so also the misery of the lost is eternal.

Unrepented sin is an eternal evil--and can never cease to be sin; and He with whom we have to do--is an eternal God!

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8