Posted on 04/04/2022 9:54:23 PM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them” (Proverbs 5:4-6 KJV).
Today marks that fifth anniversary of the homegoing of my beloved wife, Herminia. Heaven has become a sweeter place for me and look forward to one day soon seeing her again.
“. . . thou canst not know them,” God know them. If you want to know the truth about sin, then get in the Bible. The Bible will show you some things about sin and it will establish the ins and outs and the ups and downs about the subject. It will show you that there is pleasure in sin for a season, but then comes the end. Look in James. James has what is called the “ordo salutis,” a Latin phrase which means “the order of things” or how it happens or takes place.
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:13-15 KJV).
“God cannot be tempted with evil,” yes, the Bible says that Jesus Christ was tempted in all points. God does not tempt us with evil, but you will find that He does tempt us with good. In Genesis 22 we find that God did tempt Abraham to take his son up on the mountain. That was a test to do right—but God will never tempt us to do wrong.
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust,” you start the process—you are not tempted until you allow your own lusts to desire a thing. There is the time element, “WHEN” –when you are drawn away. So what does the Bible tell us to do about it? Pray. Pray, “lead me not into temptation.” In other words, control your lusts. In other words, “keep your heart,” keep it right. Don’t let it desire the things that are wrong. You have a desire, you get to thinking about it, and you are drawn away of your own lust.
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death,” that’s the order of the thing.
Now, that’s the ways of sin. You can’t figure them out. Philosophy can’t figure them out. Read all the philosophers on what they think on sin and evil. They don’t know anything about it. All they have are guesses—it’s the Bible that is going to tell you all you need to know about sin.
There are only two ways—one is right and the other is wrong. “About” is always wrong. Don’t tell me it’s about right. If it’s only about right, then it’s wrong. If you come to a stream five feet wide and jump four and a half feet, you fall in and drown. You might just as well have tumbled in from the other side and saved yourself the exertion of the jump!
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