(Todd A. Smith)
Have you noticed that people do not talk about sin as much as they once did?
During my childhood, the elders often chastised us about things we did that went against the Word of God.
But it seems that we now live in a society that believes sin does not exist and whatever a person chooses to do will please God and they will waltz into Heaven.
As a Christian, I am aware that many of my supporters are not Christian.
I respect the beliefs, or lack thereof, of all my supporters.
But this article is vital and will reach the people that God intends it to reach.
Despite many churches shying away from the sin discussion and society promoting the devil’s business, the wages of sin is still death (Romans 6:23).
As I get older and lose people that I grew up with or who mentored me, I see some who have come to peace with God and some who, seemingly, have not.
First, none of us can judge another man.
And no one can say, for sure, if another person is saved.
But the reality of death has put a serious message on my heart.
No one knows the day or minute when our life will end.
And regardless of what someone believes, all will answer for the wrongs we have done in life.
On our own, we could never atone for our sins.
But by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we have someone who will wipe our sins away if we turn towards him and away from sin.
To be forgiven, all a person must do is welcome Christ in their heart, believe he died, rose from the grave, and ascended to Heaven to be with the Father.
The good thing about turning away from a person’s sins and accepting Christ is that salvation is not a lifetime achievement award.
The person who accepts Christ an hour before they die will make it to the same Heaven as the person who spent their entire lifetime with Christ as their Lord and Savior, as illustrated in the parable of the vineyard workers.
Matthew 20:1-16 reads, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go to the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’
“So when the evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Unfortunately, when many people think about death, they begin to think about their elders.
I can remember watching my grandmothers grow old and the desire to spend time with them while I had the chance.
Then, out of nowhere, I lost a 16-year-old cousin.
The nightmare replayed itself this week in my family as I lost an 18-year-old cousin to senseless gun violence.
Death is not reserved for the elderly.
Not all are blessed with longevity.
But all will receive the same reward in Heaven if they have given their life to Christ.
As I scroll through social media platforms, I marvel at people who believe that this life is the end all, be all.
Many feel that if they get away with unbelief and sins on Earth, they have escaped scot-free.
However, that is so far from the truth.
All will meet their Maker.
And all must account for what they did with their life, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Therefore, Christians mustn’t gloss over the reality of sin just to make others feel comfortable and happy.
We must continue to warn people, with love, that we need to become more like Christ every day by turning away from our sins and repenting.
And then we need to make sure we warn ourselves of the same thing.
- Movie Review: ‘731’ Another Film That is a Warning - September 26, 2025
