I was working outside my house recently when I found an empty container for a smokeless tobacco product. The container had these words—“WARNING: This product can cause gum disease and tooth loss.”

My first thought was, “Hmmm. They left out the part about the cancer.” You would think that would be an important part of the warning, but they chose to focus on other potential hazards rather than the most serious one.

I think this is the same approach we take with sin. We take note of the fact that there may be some repercussions if we choose to disobey God. If we steal something we might get caught. If we drink and drive we might cause an accident. If we engage in sexual immorality we might get an STD, experience an unwanted pregnancy or suffer a broken relationship. If we lie we might be found out.

However, there is a more serious consequence for unforgiven sin—we might go to hell! The Bible often warns us of the dreadful wrath of God that awaits those who choose a life of sin. But thankfully there is forgiveness offered to all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior!

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”—Hebrews 9:27-28.