Little Sins by M. A. Holt

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 18, 1870

Little Sins.

By M. A. Holt

“LITTLE by little,” the tempter said, As a dark and cunning snare he spread For the young, unwary feet. “Little by little, and day by day, I will tempt the careless soul astray Unto the broad and flowery way, Till the ruin is made complete.”

There are many in the world that regard little sins as a very trifling matter, and do not apparently seek to shun them. They seem to forget that the great sum of our life-work is made up of small deeds—deeds that will form our destiny in the future life. The teachings of our Saviour everywhere guard us against little sins—even against the unholy thought and covetous desire. Many there are who in early life would revolt at the thought of committing a crime, and yet they are led to that very step by small sins. Step by step, they walk the downward road of vice, for conscience has become hardened by transgressions. He that once oversteps the line between the path of duty and the world, is upon dangerous ground, where the enemy will ever seek to hush the voice of conscience, and lead the bewildered soul further and further unto the path of folly. He is too crafty and subtle to propose some glaring crime, that would startle the soul, but he waits until little sins have hardened the heart with their corrupting influences. We believe that by thought alone, we are often led to sin.

If we listen to the tempter’s voice, and do not at once bid him depart from us, we are very likely to be led astray; and if we do indeed yield to him, it may plunge us into the mire of sin; for we believe that a single misstep has often turned the tide of a human life. An algebraic problem could not be correctly solved, if a single sign should be wrong—one mistake would lead to many more; and thus it is with the great problem of life; one error may involve a human being so deeply in the mazes of sin, that he may never extricate himself. And even if we do not become hardened sinners, small sins may form the terrible shoals that will wreck our happiness in eternity.

The coral islands of the deep are formed by creatures so small that they can hardly be discerned by the natural eye, and yet many a noble ship has been wrecked upon them, and many a human being has died of starvation upon their barren surface. Little sins hedge up the Christian’s pathway to the better land, and often hide from his eyes the path of duty. It requires not many years of existence to expand them into huge mountains. They hide from his view the faithful Guide that ever walks before, and also the crown of life that glimmers in the far distance; and when the straying feet have turned aside upon the lowlands of sin, how soon the benighted traveler is lost in the darkness and storm.

Every sin, however small, brings in its train shame and dishonor. A word, a whisper that was untrue, has ruined the reputation of a brother man, and branded his good name with lasting infamy. An angry word has brought a shadow upon the soul, that has remained for weary years, and driven from the brow the light of happiness. Whatever sin we commit, God condemns. He does not stop to inquire if a brother has committed one of far greater magnitude, or if we have been less sinful than we might have been. The truth is, that we have sinned and disobeyed the laws of God.

Christ, our divine exemplar, never sinned. Would we be like him? Then every act of our lives must be one of devotion, and whatsoever we do—whether we eat or drink, all must be done to the glory of God.

Christian friends, shun small sins, for they will assuredly block up the way that leads to your bright holy land. They will soil and blacken the beautiful robes you wear, and rob you of your strength to work for God. They will divest you of your shield and armor, and then how can you meet your subtle foes? Like the ship without mast or rudder, out upon the billowy ocean, you will be tossed in the winds and tempests of life. Only by strict obedience to God’s laws are you sure of Heaven; only by implicitly following the grand precepts of his teachings, will you dwell securely in the sheltering fold.—MRS. M. A. HOLT, in Christian Advocate.