Anyway, at the end of the book Allen mentions "besetting sins". You know, "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us..." Hebrews 12:1b.
You know, those sins that completely overthrow us, those pet sins we've kept around, those "little" sins that we justify in keeping, those sins that nobody knows about but us.
Besetting sins, sins that overthrow...
A couple of verses came to mind, verses on "blotting".
Psalms 51:1 KJV Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Psalms 51:9 KJV Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
In confessing our sins to GOD, HE "blots" them out.
But what about those pet sins that we keep around?
Those sins that easily "beset" us?
Revelation 3:5 KJV He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
If your name is not in the LAMB's Book of Life, you do not get to go to Heaven. According to the above verse, it is possible to have your name blotted out of that book! If we do not "overcome" these "besetting" sins, we are in danger of hell's fire!
Scared yet?
Our society is one of consumers. We live to consume. We work to get money, so we can buy stuff. One job isn't enough. Mom and dad both work. Dad sometimes works 2 jobs; mom sometimes does too. More stuff, never enough, never satisfied. More stuff, more bills, just can't seem to "get ahead"...
Now we're so tired from our labors that we need to "entertain" ourselves so we can relax.
"Entertainment", pleasure, playing, but where is time for God?
Exodus 32:6 KJV And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
1 Corinthians 10:7 KJV Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Substitute the word "consume" for "eat".
These verses are about the Hebrew children led by Moses. They put other things before GOD. They consumed and they played. They also angered GOD continually and did not get to go to the promised land.
Proverbs 30:20 KJV Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
We are consumed with the things of this world and this life. The cares of this world take priority.
What about GOD? What about Holiness?
Are we overcoming this world, or are we overcome by the world?
Are we going to set aside the besetting sins and have them blotted out, or are we going to have our name blotted out of the LANB's Book of Life?
Are we too busy working so we can eat, then playing to relax from all the working?
Matthew 7:21, 23 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Choose you this day whom you will serve...
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