"Exceedingly Sinful"

The older that I have become, my appreciation for the ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon has greatly increased. Most particularly, As God has extended His grace toward me, my love for reading has grown as well. Apart from the Holy Bible, one of my favorite books to read is Charles Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, a compilation of daily expositional teachings on certain passages of scripture. Just this morning, as I was reading the March 11 morning entry I was greatly convicted and I thought to post it on this blog because this is a topic that can never be adressed enough.

'Sin... exceedinly sinful'
Romans 7:13

Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afriad of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest the should offend agianst God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yeilding. It is sadly true, that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled him does not alarm him in the least. by degrees me get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been born will not notice the slightest sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, 'Is it not a little on?' Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: 'We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright in main. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for the most of our conversation, it has been consistent'. So we palliate sin; we thow a cloak over it; we call it dainty names.
Christian, beware how thou thinkest lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall by little and little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns, and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent, and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be 'exceedingly sinful'.

I am continually amazed at Spurgeon's ability to so accurately and effectively describe the human heart and its inclinations. No wonder he became a pastor at the age of 17!

-Kyle Glick-