St. Alphonsus Liguori (whose feast day is today) warns us in a sermon: beware of the deceits of the devil which lead men to perdition!
1) I AM YOUNG; I WILL HEREAFTER GIVE MYSELF TO GOD.
Consideration 1: God counts not the years, but the sins of each individual. He has fixed for each of us the number of sins He will pardon. "For it is a token of great goodness when sinners are not suffered to go on in their ways for a long time, but are presently punished." (2 Machabees 6:13)
Consideration 2: A sinner cannot escape remorse of conscience and fear of divine chastisement; it will daily increase.
Consideration 3: A soul abandoned by God is a punishment worse than death!
2) I WILL CONFESS MY SINS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
Consideration: How do you know God will give you time to confess your sins later?
3) I CANNOT RESIST THIS PASSION.
Consideration 1: God is faithful and never permits us to be tempted above our strength. "And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Consideration 2: Ask God for help. "Ask, and it shall be given you." (Matthew 7:7)
4) I CAN INDULGE MY PASSIONS FOR THE PRESENT; I WILL AFTERWARDS CONFESS MY SINS.
Consideration 1: In the meantime, you will lose your soul!
Consideration 2: God pardons sins, but He cannot pardon the determination to commit sin.
Consideration 3: To make a good confession, true sorrow for sin is necessary and this sorrow is a gift of God.
5) GOD IS MERCIFUL.
Consideration 1: God is merciful, but He is also just!
Consideration 2: God gives His mercy to them that fear Him. "And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him. (Luke 1:50)
Consideration 3: Many are induced to persevere in sin through confidence in God's mercy, but how many does He send into hell every day?
6) GOD HAS SHOWN ME SO MANY MERCIES THUS FAR; I HOPE HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
Consideration 1: The greater the mercies, the more should you tremble. "Say not: I have sinned, and what harm hath befallen me? for the most High is a patient rewarder." (Ecclesiasticus 5:4)
Consideration 2: The longer God waits for repentance, the more severe the chastisement. "A hard heart shall fear evil at the last: and he that loveth danger shall perish in it." (Ecclesiasticus. 3:27)
7) IT IS TRUE THAT BY COMMITTING SIN I LOSE THE GRACE OF GOD; BUT EVEN AFTER COMMITTING THIS, I MAY BE SAVED.
Consideration: The obstinate sinner will die an unhappy death.
"For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption." (Galatians 6:8)
"The man that with a stiff neck despiseth him that reproveth him, shall suddenly be destroyed: and health shall not follow him." (Proverbs 29:1)
"For evildoers shall be cut off." (Psalm 36:9)
"I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared." (Proverbs 1:26)
"Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded." (Proverbs 1:24)
"Revenge is mine, and I will repay them in due time, that their foot may slide: the day of destruction is at hand, and the time makes haste to come." (Deuteronomy 32:35)
CALL TO ACTION: Cease not to rationalize away your salvation... do not leave it to a "perhaps!"
Source: Content taken from St. Alphonsus Liguori's sermon, "Delusions of Sinners" from the book, "Sermons for All the Sundays in the Year."
Photo by Caleb Woods