Sin is awful.
One definition of sin is LAWLESSNESS. In God's sight, that does not exaggerate its awfulness. It is awful, because it is against God.
Men do not think of sin as so awful. They think of it only as it affects themselves, their neighbors, or their circumstances. If they thought of it as David did, they would be as penitent as he was. Sin is against God, and "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
These are well-known Scriptures. They speak of the future and sure condemnation of the sinner. There are sufferings for sin in this present time also.
Why is there so much suffering in the world? No one escapes it. Sickness, death, bereavement, losses, disappointments, disasters, tears, sorrow upon sorrow, poverty and woe—everywhere—present suffering, future and eternal suffering. Why?
SIN, SIN is the cause of all suffering. How awful it must be in God's sight! As one has well said: "One sin in God's sight is more awful than a thousand, ''ea, than all sin in our sight." But there is one sin more awful than any other sin. It is the greatest sin of which any one can be guilty.
Idolatry is an awful sin. It is a universal sin. It is a great mistake to think that only those are idolaters who bow down to images, to "sticks and stones." "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me," is the first commandment. Ex. 20:33Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3). Everything that displaces God, that comes between one's soul and God, so as to rob Him of His rightful, preeminent place, is idolatry. Ephesians 5:55For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5) says whoremongers, unclean persons, and the covetous are idolaters. Even Christians are exhorted "to keep themselves from idols." 1 John 5:2121Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21). But idolatry is not the greatest sin.
Theft, robbery— they are awful too. We justly warn against "snitching," taking property, however insignificant, that belongs to someone else. Such small beginnings deaden the conscience and most often lead to disgraceful endings. Yet thievery is not the greatest sin.
Murder—how we are shocked at it! The Word of God says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer." 1 John 3:1515Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15). It is therefore, a most common sin, and awful, indeed; but there is a sin greater still.
The Lord Jesus said, "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matt. 5:2828But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:28). What an awful sin! How prevalent! Yet there is a sin that is worse than adultery.
A dreadful catalog of human sinfulness this is indeed; but the worst sin is not yet mentioned. Do you ask, "What can it be?" I will tell you: Man's greatest sin is unbelief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Unbelief in the Lord Jesus Christ puts the unbeliever in the position of condemnation already. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God." John 3:1818He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18).
Unbelief in Jesus of Nazareth puts every unbeliever in the company of those who put Him to death. Like that shameless, self-righteous and self-deceived crowd, the unbeliever condemns Him as a deceiver and a blasphemer, and is as guilty as they. Though he may have a clean record before men, and be able to say with the young man in the gospel, "All these have I kept from my youth up," yet he is guilty of this, the greatest sin.
Reader, are you shocked at this sin of others? Do you protest against any and all kinds of sin, and yet reject Christ? Then you are committing the greatest sin. You do not believe on HIM.
You acknowledge as historically true His peerless, spotless life, but you have never accepted for yourself His sacrificial, atoning death. His teachings, you say, command respect, but they have never touched your heart. "I stand upon my own merit," you claim, "and I expect God to accept me. I am honest and moral, but I do not believe on Jesus."
Reader, it is thus you make the Lord Jesus Christ a liar! He has said: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6).
This is the crime above all crimes: the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you an unbeliever in the precious Savior of sinners? Then you stand guilty before God of this most awful sin. And you are without excuse. He Himself declares: "He that is not with Me is against Me." Matt. 12:3030He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matthew 12:30).