Just One Little Sin

People typically understate the danger and damage of sin. They will say such things as, “it was just a little white lie” or “but we’re in love and plan to get married” or “that huge department store chain will never miss this” or “they have insurance.” Others today are defending their evil actions by arguing, “God is too merciful,” and “just one little sin is not going to send you to hell.”

Just one little sin, what harm can it do:

But give it free rein and soon there are two,

And then sinful deeds and habits ensue;

So guard well your acts, or they’ll enslave you

– DJD

It is quite easy to recognize that sins in abundance are destructive. The abundant sinfulness of the antediluvian world led to God’s decision to destroy mankind (Genesis 6:5-7). The “exceeding wickedness” of the people of Sodom brought about the destruction of the city (Genesis 3:13; 18:20). The many backslidings and iniquities of the Israelites testified against. This resulted in Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 14:7). But what harm is there in just one little sin?

One Sin Sinners

  • Adam and Eve

The transgression of Adam and Eve in the Garden was not to be overlooked by God as “just one little sin.” The first act of disobedience by man in the Bible occurred in Genesis 3. God had forewarned Adam that on the day he would eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would die (Gen. 2:17). Satan was the first to minimize the danger of sin. When tempting Eve, he assured her that she would not die as God had said. In fact, Satan not only accused God of lying but suggested Eve would benefit greatly from eating the forbidden fruit. This one “little” sin cost the first couple the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:22-23).

  • Lot’s Wife

Jesus warned, “Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it” (Luke 17:32,33). Lot and his family were led away from the city of Sodom before it was to be destroyed and warned not to look back. Lot’s wife looked back one time and was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26).

  • Man Gathering Sticks on Sabbath

One of the ten commandments was to remember the Sabbath Day. Israelites were to regard it as holy unto the Lord by not working. A man violated it by gathering up sticks. As punishment for this one time sin, he was put to death by stoning with the sentence given by God Himself with all the congregation as executioners (Numbers 15).

  • Nadab and Abihu

The two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, were fired by God for failure to do their jobs as priest. They used “strange” fire to burn incense in the Tabernacle (Lev. 10:1-3). God sent fire from heaven to devour them. The sons of Aaron had the right incense, the proper desire, they were the right men, in the right place, at the right time, with the right utensils, but there was one thing wrong: the strange fire which the Lord commanded them not. Their father held his peace, because he understood the seriousness of one sin.

  • Achan

Achan’s greed acknowledges the fact that one sin in the camp can cause victory to be withheld, till sin is properly punished (Joshua 7). He took things from Jericho which God had forbade. The Israelites were defeated at Ai as a result. Later the people were reminded, “did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity’” (Josh. 22:20).

  • Uzzah

For years the Ark of the Covenant had been a captured trophy from Israel and held by the Philistines. David desired to bring the ark of God into Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6:1-2). The ark was placed upon a cart pulled by oxen (2 Sam. 6:3). “And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled” (2 Sam. 6:6) It appears that Uzzah was only trying to help. His actions were genuine and well-intended. Touching the ark, however, was a violation of God’s will. Only certain Levites were to transport the ark using poles (Num. 4:15). Uzzah only touched the ark once, but the result was immediate death.

  • David & Bathsheba

As far as we know David committed adultery only once with Bathesheba (2 Sam. 11:4). However, the sin led to the death of her husband. As punishment, there was the death of the baby. It did not stop there, but the horrifying consequences of the one-night stand would lead to the death of three more of David’s sons. David was not about to argue with Nathan that it was just one little sin. Nathan rebuked David, “why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon” (2 Sam. 12:9).

  • Ananias and Sapphira

Even in the New Testament one can clearly see the danger and damage of one little sin. A Christian couple by the name of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) lied to Peter about the amount of money they were putting into the church treasury. Peter gave each one an opportunity to repent. First, Ananias continued to hold to the lie and as a result he died. Next, his wife did the same. Great fear came upon the church over the consequence of one little lie.

  • Simon

When Philip brought the Gospel to Samaria, many were saved. A sorcerer by the name of Simon was baptized. However, his desire to purchase the duty of an apostle’s of laying on of hands to depart gifts from the Holy Spirit was severely rebuked by Peter. Peter did not pass this request from Simon off as a little sin. “But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity” (Acts 8:20-23).

So the next time you are tempted to think one little sin is not that big a deal, remember what these Bible examples teach about the danger and damage that one sin can bring. Just one little bite cost Adam and Eve paradise. Just a little bit strange fire caused Nadab and Abihu to be fired by God. Just one little touch of the ark killed Uzzah. A one-night stand with Bathesheba result in the deaths of four of David’s sons. Just one lie ended in the deaths Ananias and Sapphira. Do not let one little sin keep you from eternity in Heaven. Repent today of that sin.

– Daniel R. Vess

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Categories: The Forum