Beech Tree News Network

Many years ago, a Mr. Thomas Hall (1610-1665) said, “We must not so much as taste of the devil’s broth, lest at last he brings us to eat of his beef.” This statement sounds funny at first, but Mr. Hall understood something that few people today seem to understand. That is, that sin is a progressive thing. Therefore, to play around with sin will bring sure and certain destruction.

    Paul put it this way, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thess 5:22). To the Romans he said, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh …” (Rom. 13:14). David spoke of the blessed man who, “walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1). In these passages, we see the progressive nature of sin. If I avoid every form of evil, not making provisions for the flesh, and do not walk, stand, or sit with evil men, I am doing as God wishes me to do. Rather than making provisions for the flesh, and fulfilling unlawful lusts, I need to delight in God’s word and meditate in it “day and night.” (Ps. 1:2). This will keep me from spiritual danger.

    In considering the statement by Mr. Hall, we also see that when it comes to sin, it gets worse every time we succumb to temptation. Think about the beef and the broth. When one tastes of broth, he merely gets the flavor. The actual “beef” is to be found further in the pot. When one eats of the beef, he is not partaking of mere flavor, but something more! Satan wishes for men to not merely “taste” of sin, but to devour it, just as he wishes to “devour” men today (I Pet. 5:8). If our guard is not up, and we are not resisting the devil (Jas. 4:7), we are sure to go farther than we ever intended to go!

    Let us also learn that though the “broth” seems “safe,” it is a precursor to the “beef”! In spiritual terms, Satan places sin in front of people, presenting only what he thinks we will like. As a fisherman, he only shows the “lure” and we, many times, take the bait, not realizing that the “hook” is there! Satan promises to satisfy lusts (I Jn. 2:15-17). He promises pleasure (Heb. 11:24-25). He promises world-wide acceptance (Matt. 4:8-9). He promises things that he cannot deliver. This does not matter to him, for he is “a liar, and the father of it” (Jn. 8:44). In truth, sin brings emptiness, displeasure, shame, and loneliness; for sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2). Sin is why Christ came to this world (Lk. 19:10; I Tim. 1:15). Sin is the reason that we have so much suffering in this world today.

    Of all the horrible things that men do, we can trace every problem back to the fact that someone wanted to “dabble” in sin, just to taste of the “broth.” It was not until later that they found themselves eating of the beef! “Out of the frying pan and into the fire,” so to speak! If you don’t believe this, ask the drug addict, the pornography and sex addict, the drunkard, etc., how he/she got started. Not many imagined sin would take them as far as they went! They tasted of the “broth” too many times. Beware!

-- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program on 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167