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To Call Sin by its Right Name, July 26
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the
Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now
what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
Joshua 7:19
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The history of Achan teaches the solemn lesson that for one man’s
sin the displeasure of God will rest upon a people or a nation till the
transgression is searched out and punished. Sin is corrupting in its nature.
One man infected with its deadly leprosy may communicate the taint to
thousands.... Many dare not condemn iniquity, lest they shall thereby
sacrifice position or popularity. And by some it is considered uncharitable
to rebuke sin. The servant of God ... is under the most solemn obligation
to present the Word of God, without fear or favor. He must call sin by its
right name....
The love of God will never lead to the belittling of sin; it will never
cover or excuse an unconfessed wrong. Achan learned too late that God’s
law, like its Author, is unchanging. It has to do with all our acts and
thoughts and feelings. It follows us, and reaches every secret spring of
action. By indulgence in sin, men are led to lightly regard the law of
God. Many conceal their transgressions from their fellow men, and flatter
themselves that God will not be strict to mark iniquity. But His law is
the great standard of right, and with it every act of life must be compared
in that day when God shall bring every work into judgment with every
secret thing, whether it be good or evil. Purity of heart will lead to purity
of life. All excuses for sin are vain. Who can plead for the sinner when
God testifies against him
The greatest want of the world is the want of men,—men who will not
be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men
who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is
as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right
though the heavens fall
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62
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:996, 997
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63
Education, 57
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