p. 200 | Sin Does not Pay by Roswell Fenner Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 2, 1874

Sin Does not Pay.

By Roswell Fenner Cottrell

Those who think it to their advantage to sin are deceived. Many think they will some day forsake their sins and turn to God; but they are not ready to do so at once, because they cannot afford to part with the pleasures of sin. They think they will be gainers to pursue a course of sin for a time, and afterward they purpose to secure eternal salvation. This is on account of the “deceitfulness of sin.” No one is a gainer by living in sin. It is always only a loss, and a fearful one too. Moses made a wise choice when he chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Sin never pays; and the person, young or old, who thinks it an advantage to continue in the ways of sin a little longer is under a sad deception.

And they run a fearful risk; for the probabilities that they will finally be lost are rapidly increasing with every sinful indulgence, and also by every day's delay of so reasonable a requirement as repentance of those acts that caused the sufferings of the Son of God, and which are daily grieving him who showed such great love for us, and thus crucifying him afresh.

Oh! that all might see how exceedingly hateful sin is, and how perfectly deceptive. Those who view it as it is will flee from it as from a deadly viper. To dally with it and delay repentance and obedience is to grieve the Son of God, make light of his sufferings in our behalf, and to treasure up wrath against the day of wrath. The dreadful gulf that separates the sinner from God and Heaven is widening as long as he willingly remains in sin. Fellow-mortal, seek pardon and peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, while he may be found. Soon it will be too late!

R. F. COTTRELL.