December 26

Do not be deceived-- one sin will send you to hell as fast as a thousand. "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effemiante, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Scripture excludes not only the man who is all of these, but he who is any of them. All men must die, but they do not die of the same disease. And it is just as certain that all unrepentant sinners will be damned-- one for a particular sin and another for something else. But they will all meet in the same flaming hell.

Satan tempts us with secret sins. Saul was ashamed to approach Endor in his princely robe because he had told the world of his hatred of witchcraft, making it punishable by death. But he was not afraid to go to a witch in disguise. What weight is added, then, to the devil's sinister motive when he tempted Christ in the wilderness, soliciting Him to a secret acknowledgement of him, just between the two of them. But how much greater was Christ's glory in His victory that day! He won the battle over Satan's assaults with the sword of the Word-- and it is time for us to take up His weapon to fight the same enemy. This defense takes on several specific expressions.

Scripture says God knows every secret sin. "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance" (Psalm 90:8). God sees secret sins as plainly as we see things at high noon. And He not only knows them but sets them up as targets for His arrows of vengeance.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3). He sees when you close your closet door to pray in secret and rewards your sincerity; but He also sees when the door is closed for you to sin in secret-- and He will not fail to reward your hypocrisy.

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