IT'S NOT WORTH IT: THE PLEASURE OF SIN

Greetings beloved,. I hope you are increasing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? I will like to admonish you on what I titled “THE PLEASURE OF SIN”

Proverbs 20:17 says “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after that his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” Have you tried to eat rice and beans before, only for your teeth to unexpectedly grind a stone? The stone stopped you from continuing to chew and swallow the food in your mouth. You had to spew it out of your mouth. What you experienced is far from a mouth full of gravel which our anchor scripture compares what stolen bread will turn to. Stolen bread may taste sweet but it is a lie.

If there were not some sort of pleasure or immediate gratification in sin, nobody would do it. The reality of sin is that it starts off giving you what you want, while decomposing your health and happiness in the end. There is no long term joy or sustainable pleasure in sin. Sin demands that you keep coming back for more. Moses was a man who knew the pleasure of sin; with all of the accomplishments of sin that great wealth and fortune can bring. Yet, Moses also knew these things had a season and were temporary. He turned his back on the sins of Egypt, and decided to wholly follow the Lord. Hebrews 11:24-26 says, “By faith Moses, when he was come of years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respects unto the recompense of the reward.”

Moses had it all. He lacked for nothing in his life. Yet, Moses was not happy. Moses grew up and gave up on Satan’s sinful lures and lies. Moses became the man of God that he was born to be. Moses destiny would have been truncated if he had decided to carry on in the pleasure of Egypt. He would have gone through life not engaging the force of his purpose wherein God has called him. So, great destinies of men and women, boys and girls are help up in the shallow pit of the pleasure of sin not making the decision in other to fulfill that awesome purpose god has called them for. Living in the pleasure of sin is a decision and Moses was wise enough to know it was for a season.

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). The pleasures of sin are temporary. Satan only deceives you by telling you what you will enjoy; he doesn’t tell you what you will suffer. He tells you what you will gain; he doesn’t tell you what you will lose. Beloved, what you lose is far greater than the lie the devil is telling you about what you will gain. The Bible says Satan has always hated the truth and there is no truth in him; when he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Don’t become a casualty of his lies and

Everything appeared to be okay when Esau sold his birthright. He collected the food from his brother, ate it and went away (Gen 25:29-34). There was no obvious change; life went on as usual. But later, when the consequences of his actions dawned on him; when the time for the harvest of the seed he had planted came, he wept bitterly for the birthright but it was too late. The Bible calls him the profane and godless person and warns us not to emulate him (Hebrews 12:16-17) The repercussion of our actions might not be obvious now, it seems like smooth sailing, pastor does not understand, my leader does not get it you might say but the bible says “obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: For they watch for your souls, as they that might give account, that they might do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” But there come a time of no repentance though you sought it with tears like Esau.

You may see many people indulging in the pleasures of sin now, but don’t be deceived, they will soon face the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately, not all the people who saw them when they were enjoying sin, as if there would not be any consequences, will be there later to see them harvest what they’ve sown. In fact many today have already entered their harvest season and are currently suffering after the temporary pleasures of sin, which they indulged in, had expired. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.” And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful; who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:28-32).

All these sins have negative consequences now and in eternity. Those who indulge in these sins and the like won’t have a share in the kingdom of God; their part is the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Rev 21:8), if they refuse to repent and forsake them.

God bless you. See you next month.