The Devil’s Tactics in Diminishing Sin
Sometimes, when you begin to recognize the ugliness of sin and its consequences, the devil comes to make it seem smaller in your eyes. He might say to you, “It’s not that bad. Don’t make a big deal out of it—it’s just a small slip,” or he might say, “You’re weak, and temptations are everywhere.” The devil tries to minimize your sin in your own eyes so that you remain in it and continue committing it.
A Moment of Honesty in the Story of a Repentant Youth
In the story of the brother who repented from pornography, our companion mentioned that the devil tried to convince him with these very words. But here, the effect of the honesty that had been planted in his heart shone through. He said to himself clearly, “If I stay in this cycle of pornography, I am a criminal.”
Look at this honesty—he did not say, “Many young people do this,” nor did he say, “I am weak, and God will forgive me,” nor did he say, “There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.” Instead, he faced himself with the truth. And here lies the lesson, my brothers and sisters: do not deceive yourself.
The First Step to Repentance: Calling Things by Their True Names
The first step to repentance is to call sin by its true name, not to wrap it in excuses. God the Exalted says:
And others have acknowledged their sins. They mixed a righteous deed with another evil one. Perhaps God will turn to them in mercy. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful.
They acknowledged their sins—they did not justify them, beautify them, or turn them into mere “psychological conditions” as if they were forced into them.
Balancing Between Forgiveness and Caution
At the same time, do not lull yourself into thinking, “I am guilty, I admit my sin, and God will forgive me,” only to remain in the same mire. Yes, God is Forgiving and Merciful, but the sincere person does not use God’s mercy as an anesthetic to continue in sin. Rather, they see it as a door to return to Him. Remember God’s words:
Know that God is severe in punishment and that God is Forgiving and Merciful.
Be honest with yourself, for the beginning of salvation is to say, “I have erred, and I do not want to remain in this state.”