The Sinner's Way

"Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard." (Proverbs 13: 15)

The life of sin is no easy life. It is a hard life. Sometimes sinners do not realize this until they are fully reaping the consequences of their sinful choices. We do "reap what we sow." If we "sow to the flesh," sow seeds of sin, then we will "reap corruption." (Galatians 6:8)

"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8: 10)

"Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD." (Lamentations 3: 64-66)

The consequences of sin and alienation from God! how awful! yet, how just! Sinners reap heavily now, in this life, for all their sins and for their rejection of the Lord and his grace. But, present reapings are only the "firstfruits" of the harvest, for the complete reaping will come after this life, in the after-life, in eternity.

"Sorrow of heart," mental depression, psychological disorders, and such like, they are all the fruits of sin. These are the punishments sent from the "Judge of all the earth" (Genesis 18: 25), who always "does right." God's "curse" and "recompense" are sent justly to those who have rebelled against their God and Creator. Such sinners, as Paul taught, even now "receive in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet" (Romans 1: 27).

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." (Proverbs 23: 29,30)

"Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." (Isaiah 3: 11)

"You shall pine away in your iniquities." (Leviticus 26: 39 & Ezekiel 24: 23)

Examples of transgressors and their hard lives: 1) Saul (Paul), 2) Judas, 3) Prodigal Son

"And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." (Acts 26: 14)

"Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself." (Matthew 27: 3-5)

"And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!" (Luke 15: 13-17)

"Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33: 9-11)

Friend, are you not tired of all your mental sorrows, the curses of God? Are you tired of the service of sin? Do you find God "persecuting" and "destroying" you? Do you not realize that he is acting as a just judge in condemning and rewarding you? Do you not realize that "the wages of sin is death"? (Romans 6: 23) Sin brings a "recompense"; there is a "pay day" for all sin. Are you "pining away in your iniquities"?

Jesus bids you come to him. He was made a substitute for sins, to receive the "recompense" due eternally to transgressors. Will you come to him for life, salvation, and forgiveness of sin?

"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59: 2)

"Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you." (Jeremiah 5: 25)