Sin of Sins

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Reading: Genesis 3:1-24

"Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb 11:6a)

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The Garden of Eden was a place of hills, plains, and lovely lakes. The blue heavens and the green earth were in perfect harmony. On the graceful shrubs stood colourful flowers, dressed in purple and pink, to greet the first man and woman at every turn of their eye. The lion and the lamb played peacefully around them. The two full-grown babies enjoyed the company of the angelic beings who were their frequent visitors. Above all, they welcomed the coming of their Creator who walked in the garden, in the cool of the day. They lived in perpetual dependence on God and enjoyed perfect bliss. But they could continue in that happy estate only on a condition. The condition that their Creator laid down was this: "Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat" (Gen 2:18). The tree of knowledge had been made a test of their faith and obedience. It was then that the unwanted intruder came on the scene and asked Eve, "Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Gen 3:1). He questioned the very Word of God. Alas! Eve began to distrust God's love and doubt His wisdom. She disbelieved the words of God for whom it was impossible to lie (Heb 6:8) and believed the lie of the liar (Jn 8:44). And the outcome? They became outcasts from the garden of Eden. The first sin of our first parents is failure to believe God's Word. Yes, unbelief is the sin of sins.

Unbelief is the only sin that leads to death (1 Jn 5:16). For any other sin committed by any of us, we can pray for that person, and God will forgive him. But if he keeps refusing to believe on Christ Jesus as his Saviour, however much we may pray for him, he will not be forgiven. "There is no judgment awaiting those who trust Him. But those who do not trust Him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God" (Jn 3:18). This truth must be shouted in the ears of those who say there is no God, and all religions are the same, and membership in the Church is good enough for salvation!

The only condition God lays for us to be forgiven and accepted into His family is that we must believe on His Son. Anything else is secondary. Without faith, it is impossible to please God! "Dear God, in these days when thousands go astray from faith, help me not to believe the lies of the devil but trust in the finished work of Christ only, and walk in faith obeying the simple truths of Your holy Word!"

Unbelief shuts the door of Heaven and opens the gates of hell!

Dr. Billy Graham