Solomon said plainly that “the way of transgressors is hard.” (Provs. 13:15) Centuries after those wise words were penned, Jesus underscored them with His unforgettable parable about the prodigal son who, in his youthful transgressions, found out that the way of transgressors is indeed unimaginably hard. (Luke 15:11-32) History, both biblical and non-biblical, is replete with stories that buttress Solomon’s thesis on the brutal hardness of the transgressor’s way. Here are some reasons why the way of transgressors is hard:
- It is a hard way because of the places you will go and the people you will know. Transgressors notoriously keep company with fools (Provs. 13:20), destroyers (Provs. 28:24), thieves (Isa. 1:13) and riotous men. (Provs. 28:7) The places such companions will take you reek with the stench, smell, sounds, and sights of a Christless world void of that which is wholesome. “Thy princes are rebellious,” God told the sinful nation through His spokesman, Isaiah. The nation that He loved and lavished goodness upon would—in 605 B.C. at the hand of the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar—surely realize at last that the way of the transgressing nation is hard;
- Because of decisions that transgressors make—decisions to “do it my way,” to “have just this one fling,” to “have some fun to make up for all the good times missed,” to “go along to get along,” to “take care of # 1 first for a change,” to “depart for a while from the ‘straight and narrow’ way so I can get a taste of what the world is like,” to “do something for myself for a change.”
- Because of the good that you will miss while going the way of the transgressor: The church family and fellowship that you will forfeit; the needed godly instruction that you will miss out on, which probably will never be able to be made up; the genuine Christian friends who have loved and nurtured you and have prayed for your happiness that you have left behind while going the way of the transgressor; the victories that might have come your way, the answers to prayers, the storehouse of good things your heavenly Father wanted to load you down with but could not; the friends of faith that had become as close or closer to you than blood relatives; the praises, hymn sings, testimonies, prayer services, revival meetings, and godly people who have without a word but by their walk impacted your life immeasurably—all of this and more will soon be lost from your daily life as you pursue the way of the transgressor which, you will find soon enough, is so very, very hard.
- Because of the consequences you will reap—including “corruption,” a product of sowing to the flesh, and bitterness, hatred, confusion, discord, death. (Gal. 6:8)
- Because of the opportunities you will waste: “One life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” Transgressors waste time, resources, talent, relationships, and lives that might have made a difference for God for good—opportunities gone with the fleeting years, never to return;
- Because of judgment that must come—judgement that is certain; judgement that is just; judgement that is final; judgement that includes loss of rewards; judgement that will begin before death and follow after death (the judgement seat of Christ for the believer, or the Great White Throne Judgement for the unbeliever, Rev. 20:11-15).
- Because of the price you will pay for being a transgressor: in some cases, the loss of your health, your loved ones, your job, your home, your marriage, your church family, your good name, your respectability—and, in the most extreme case, the transgressor who refuses Christ will lose in the end his soul. Jesus asked, “What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
- Because of the peace you will forfeit. “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isa. 48:22)
- Because of the love you will spurn: God’s love, Mother’s love, Father’s love, the love of family, friends, teachers, pastors, mentors;
- Because of the end you will reach: The way of the transgressor is hard, and the end of the way that seems right unto man is death. It is an ugly end; an unending end; a suffering end; an irrevocable end. BUT Jesus still says—with outstretched arms—“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 28:18-20)
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they be red like, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
YOU and GOD 