One Small Sin

“God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man.” SC 30

Although we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, there are great sinners and those that don’t sin as much. Nero was a great sinner. He caused the death of many innocent Christians. Many of the Popes during the Dark Ages also committed atrocities against God’s people, and are considered great sinners. King Saul proved to be a great sinner when he sentenced all the priests to death. Judas Iscariot is also regarded as a great sinner because he betrayed Jesus with a kiss. In the Bible we can find many other stories of people who were great sinners. Then there are sinners who sin less. Are they better people? What makes a sin great or small? That is for God to judge because our judgment is not perfect. “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:47,48

In Steps to Christ page 30, (continuing from the initial quote) it states, ”but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man’s judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give.” SC 30 We look at outward appearances, while God reads the heart.

What we may think is a small sin may have major consequences. It was only a small sin that Adam and Eve committed. All they did was eat a piece of forbidden fruit. What was the result? Just an upset stomach for awhile?

Firstly, it was not a hard test. “The mildest test was given them that could be given; for there was no need of their eating of the forbidden tree; everything that their wants required had been provided.” BE July 24, 1899.But there were grave consequences however: “The tide of woe that flowed from the transgression of our first parents is regarded by many as too awful a consequence for so small a sin.” PP 61. Was God being fair? Could He not simply forgive them that one small sin since they repented, and let them continue living in Eden?

“God created man after His own likeness, free from sin. The earth was to be peopled with beings only a little lower than the angels; but their obedience must be tested; for God would not permit the world to be filled with those who would disregard His law. Yet, in His great mercy, He appointed Adam no severe test. And the very lightness of the prohibition made the sin exceedingly great. If Adam could not bear the smallest of tests, he could not have endured a greater trial had he been entrusted with higher responsibilities. PP 60

“Had some great test been appointed Adam, then those whose hearts incline to evil would have excused themselves by saying, ‘This is a trivial matter, and God is not so particular about little things.’ And there would be continual transgression in things looked upon as small, and which pass unrebuked among men. But the Lord has made it evident that sin in any degree is offensive to Him.” PP 61

Although their sin was forgiven, there were consequences. Even the smallest sins bear consequences. “Small” sins have been known to lead to larger sins. “To Eve it seemed a small thing to disobey God by tasting the fruit of the forbidden tree, and to tempt her husband also to transgress.” PP 61. The result was… “their sin opened the floodgates of woe upon the world.” PP 61. Just look at the world now. What a comparison to what we read of the Eden home where Adam and Eve had lived. There is really no comparison – it is a night and day difference. “The fall of our first parents broke the golden chain of implicit obedience of the human will to the divine.” MS 1, 1892. “All nature is confused; for God forbade the earth to carry out the purpose He had originally designed for it. Let there be no peace to the wicked, saith the Lord. The curse of God is upon all creation.” 4SG 121. And all this from one small sin. One small indulgence of appetite. “Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step?” PP 61

Ever since the time of Adam and Eve, Satan has been tempting people with the idea that small sins are of no consequence. It doesn’t really matter. Just confess and all will be well. All will be restored once more. However this is not true. All sins bear consequences, even if they are repented of and forgiven. The results remain.

ESAU

Esau didn’t think much of the selling of his birthright for a good meal, however it was not a one-off sin or momentary slip-up. He had a problem with appetite. “Esau had a special, strong desire for a particular article of food, and he had gratified self so long that he did not feel the necessity of turning from the tempting, coveted dish. He thought upon it, and made no special effort to restrain his appetite, until its power bore down every other consideration, and controlled him, and he imagined he would suffer great inconvenience, and even death, if he could not have that particular dish.” Rather than stopping to consider the consequences of his sin, he cherished his sin and longed for it. “The more he thought upon it, the more his desire strengthened, until his birthright, which was sacred, lost its value and its sacredness.” When we dwell on sin, it ceases to appear as sinful as we first thought, and keeping the body sacred is of less importance. The conscience becomes seared and the person is unguarded for greater attacks. “He thought, Well, if I now sell it, I can easily buy it back again.” Is this not what many Christians say? Things will be the same as before? I can indulge now, and later I will confess. It doesn’t matter as it is only a small sin? But this is a fallacy. “When he [Esau] sought to purchase it back, even at a great sacrifice on his part, he was not able to do so… He sought for repentance carefully and with tears. It was all in vain. He had despised the blessing, and the Lord removed it from him forever.” RH April 27, 1886. One small sin….
It was too late. And from this one “small” indulgence of appetite, the results were serious. “Esau passed the crisis of his life without knowing it. What he regarded as a matter worthy of scarcely a thought was the act which revealed the prevailing traits of his character. It showed his choice, showed his true estimate of that which was sacred and which should have been sacredly cherished. He sold his birthright for a small indulgence to meet his present wants, and this determined the after-course of his life. To Esau the morsel of meat was more than the service of his Master.” Letter 5, 1877.

Esau represents many people who have not overcome on the point of appetite. They feel it is not important to be too strict and exacting on their dietary habits. Sister White has given many counsels in the book Counsels on Diet and Foods, which, if followed, would promote the best health a person could have, but many don’t take these seriously. They feel it is not so important to be so strict. These small indulgences don’t really matter. Well do they? To God they do or He would not have inspired Sister White to write them in a book for our guidance. If it is important to God, should it not be important to us also? If we don’t take God’s word seriously, our conscience will be seared.

DANIEL

Daniel was the opposite of Esau, he saw the importance of strictly adhering to God’s dietary requirements. He was willing to die rather than violate his body with foods that were unhealthy.

“Among the viands placed before the king were swine’s flesh and other meats which were declared unclean by the law of Moses, and which the Hebrews had been expressly forbidden to eat. Here Daniel was brought to a severe test. Should he adhere to the teachings of his fathers concerning meats and drinks, and offend the king, probably losing not only his position but his life, or should he disregard the commandment of the Lord, and retain the favor of the king, thus securing great intellectual advantages and the most flattering worldly long prospects?

“Daniel did not hesitate. He decided to stand firmly for his integrity, let the result be what it might. He ‘purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.’
“There are many among professed Christians today who would decide that Daniel was too particular, and would pronounce him narrow and bigoted. They consider the matter of eating and drinking of too little consequence to require such a decided stand, –one involving the probable sacrifice of every earthly advantage. But those who reason thus will find in the day of judgment that they turned from God’s express requirements, and set up their own opinion as a standard of right and wrong. They will find that what seemed to them unimportant was not so regarded of God. His requirements should be sacredly obeyed. Those who accept and obey one of His precepts because it is convenient to do so, while they reject another because its observance would require a sacrifice, lower the standard of right, and by their example lead others to lightly regard the holy law of God. ‘Thus saith the Lord’ is to be our rule in all things.” CD 30
Remember, Health Reform is the right hand of our message.

LIES

There are many other sins that Satan tempts people into believing are small. For instance–lying. Often people feel that there are times when it is necessary to tell a lie in order to avoid hurting someone’s feelings or to avoid an unpleasant experience. We have what we call, “white” lies. They are deemed acceptable. What happened when David told a lie? He was visiting the priests in the town of Nob and told a lie. He thought he would continue his journey and that would be the end of it. But this was not the end of it. King Saul heard that David was there. “And the King said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou and all thy father’s house.” 1 Samuel 22:16. There is no such thing as a small lie, or a “white” lie. All lies bring evil consequences. Many people lost their lives from that one “small” lie.

LOOKING AT EVIL

Looking at something is not sin, is it? There are so many TV shows, and no one knows what you are watching in the privacy of your own home. Just because you are not committing the act does not make you innocent. Looking at evil is just as sinful. “But 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 Is this a small sin? Just to look at someone (male or female) in lust? This can be easily repented of, can it not? Is it wrong to admire beauty? King David did not think it was so serious when he looked at Bathsheba bathing, but this one small look did have major consequences. It led to greater sins. “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittitie with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.” 2 Sam. 12:9.His “one small sin” of looking, led to adultery and murder. And when it was brought to his attention, he repented with bitter tears. God did forgive him, but what was the result? “Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.” 2 Sam. 22:10-12. David offered no excuse for his sin – he was guilty. He was forgiven, but the current of his life changed. From that time onwards he had more wars and fightings. He also had family troubles. Four of his children were slain over the course of time and the nation was nearly divided under the leadership of his son Absalom, who carried out the prophecy of the violation of David’s wives. All this from one small sin of looking at a woman bathing. Looking at TV, not only lust, but crimes, violence, murder – these have made a major contribution to the appalling condition of society today.

There are other sins that may not seem so major, such as hatred and anger, however, if these are not controlled, they will lead to greater sins such as murder, as in the case of Cain – who was jealous of his brother. “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” I John 3:15
Then there is idleness, sins of omission. They seem to not be hurting anyone. However, if you neglect to share your faith with your fellow men as the Lord opens up the way, you may be condemning them to death in hell fire. It has been said that “Idle hands are the tools of the devil.” Satan will find great use for those who have nothing to do. Are these all small sins? Not in the eyes of God.

CONCLUSION:

Although there may be degrees of sin, one sin often leads to another even greater one. And even in what we may feel are the smallest of sins, there can be life changing results as in the case of Esau. The whole current of his life changed. For this reason it is very important to “pray without ceasing,” 1 Thess 5:17 and to keep our connection to Jesus strong. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” I John 3:5 Even one small sin will keep us out of heaven and result in unpleasant circumstances here on earth.
“Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel. The prevalence of a sinful desire shows the delusion of the soul. Every indulgence of that desire strengthens the soul’s aversion to God. The pains of duty and the pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares. Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful.” 5T 53.2

We need to be connected with Jesus every day, every hour. We need to be at one with Jesus and have Him abide in our hearts. The atonement is our only hope of salvation. It would do well for us to study to understand this more clearly.

“God does not consult our opinions or preferences. He knows what human beings do not know, –the future results of every movement, and therefore our eyes should be directed to Him, and not to the worldly advantages presented by Satan. Satan tells us that if we give heed to him, we shall reach great heights of knowledge. Ye shall be as gods, he said to Eve, if you eat of the tree forbidden by God. The test given to Adam and Eve was very light, but they could not bear it. They disobeyed God, and this transgression opened the floodgates of woe on our world.” MS 50, 1893.

May God grant us the strength to resist any and all sin and to maintain our connection with heaven.
AMEN

Wendy Eaton, Canada