The devil's daring falsehood

(J. C. Ryle)

I can imagine nothing so pleasant to men, as the
fallacious theory that we may live in sin—and yet
escape eternal perdition; that although we "are
slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures"
while we are here in this world, we shall somehow
or other, all get to heaven hereafter! Only tell the
young man who is "wasting his substance in riotous
living," that there is a heaven at last, even for those
who live and die in sin—and he is never likely to turn
from evil. What does it signify how he lives, if there
is no "future eternal punishment?" Why should he
repent and take up the cross—if he can get to
heaven at last without trouble?

Six thousand years ago, sin entered into the
world by the devil's daring falsehood, "You
shall not surely die!" (Genesis 3:4) At the end
of six thousand years, the great enemy of
mankind is still using his old weapon, and
trying to persuade men that they may live
and die in sin—and yet at some distant period
may be finally saved! Let us not be ignorant
of his devices. Let us walk steadily in the old
paths. Let us hold fast the old truth, and
believe that, as the happiness of the saved
is eternal—so also the misery of the lost is
eternal.

Unrepented sin is an eternal evil—and can
never cease to be sin; and He with whom
we have to do—is an eternal God!

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
 A man reaps what he sows. The one who
 sows to please his sinful nature, from that
 nature will reap destruction; the one who
 sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit
 will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8