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The Cause of All Our Woes, March 16
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of
you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13
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Mark the words “deceitfulness of sin.” Satan always presents his
temptations under the guise of goodness. Beware that you yield not to
them. One violation of straightforward truthfulness prepares the way for
the second violation, and wrongs are repeated, until the heart of unbelief
becomes hardened, and the conscience loses its sensitiveness.
Let none flatter themselves that the sins of their youth can easily be
given up by and by. This is not so. Every sin cherished weakens the
character and strengthens the habit; and physical, mental, and moral
depravity result. You may repent of the wrong you have done, and set
your feet in right paths; but the mold of your mind and your familiarity
with evil will make it difficult for you to distinguish between right and
wrong. Through the wrong habits you have formed Satan will assail you
again and again.
Many ... look upon sin as a little thing.... Many take counsel of their
own wishes and desires and follow their inclinations and finally conclude
that sin is not so very offensive, not so terrible and dreadful in the sight of
God. Sin that may appear little, that may be termed little by the blunted
conscience, is so grievous a thing in the sight of God that nothing but the
blood of God’s own Son could wash it away. This fact places the true
estimate upon sin. God will never tarnish His glory to come to our ideas
and views. We shall certainly have to come to His. Just in proportion to
the excellence of God is the heinous character of sin....
God seeks our real happiness. If anything lies in the way of this, He
sees it must first be removed. He will thwart our purposes and disappoint
our expectations and bring us through disappointments and trials to reveal
to us ourselves as we are.... Sin is the cause of all our woes. If we would
have true peace and happiness of mind, sin must be removed.
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