READ: PROVERBS
6:16-19
The
shortest route to hell is the highway of verbal sins. Among these verbal sins,
two are very deadly: backbiting and lying. Backbiters are here grouped with
murderers, thieves and evildoers. They will all go to hell. Therefore, bridle
your tongue. Psalm 1:1 says you should not even listen to backbiters: “Blessed
is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path
of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.” Simply, this verse
says cursed be the person that walks in the counsel of the ungodly and stands
in the way of sinners and sits with the scornful. The opposite of a blessing is
a curse. This is clear. Let us consider another verbal sin that can lead to
hell: lying. There are several types of lies. For instance, it is believed that
a lie that does not hurt anyone is a white lie. This is the type of lie you
tell when you attribute your lateness to work to traffic jam, instead of
confessing that you just did not wake up on time. But no matter the colour of a
lie, a liar will go to hell. Among the seven things the Bible tells us God
hates, three of these are attributed to the tongue, according to our text: a
lying tongue, a false witness and the one who sows discord among brethren. God
abhors all these. Revelation 21:8 also lists those who are heading towards
hell: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which
burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” All liars
shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. You may
wonder why I have decided to look into the meticulous details of the sins that
hinder people from getting to heaven. It is because now is the time to prepare
for eternity. Are you ready for heaven?
MEMORIZE:
PSALM 1:1 –Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
