For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord; but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; all those who hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:35-36)

Loving Death

The choice God has given man from the beginning is life and death. Adam and Eve chose death, and the world of Noah was consumed with sin, leading to their destruction. There is a divine formula that God always reminds men that what they decide will determine the future. Seeking after God and His righteousness always brings about life and good things. This does not suggest good things about the carnal world but the blessings of being a child of God. Godliness is profitable for all things because it guides the decisions of life measured by a moral compass from God. Righteousness exalts a nation through the order and discipline of holiness created by the Lord. The wisdom of man can never overwhelm the word of God in perfection. It is not in man to know how to guide himself.

God gave His word to men to instruct them in the way of truth and righteousness. He established the divine principle when men obey Him, and they will be blessed; if they disobey the word of the Lord, they will suffer the consequences. This has not changed and never will change. Whoever finds the Lord God will find life and receive abounding blessings from the Lord. However, those who sin against the will of the Lord do greater harm. Seeking after the carnal desires of the flesh is a process of self-destruction. God did not design the nature of man to live under the chains of sin. Man was created to glorify God. When man’s heart turns to sin, he denies the purpose for which he was created.

To sin against God is to injure self and destroy self. That is what sin does to the human spirit. Life and favor come only from obeying the word of God. Transgressing the word of the Lord is harming oneself to the point of death. Jesus told His disciples if they loved Him, they would keep His commandments. Commandment keeping is an expression of love. If a man refuses to follow the word of God, he does not love God. That is a stark statement, but Jesus was plain about the relationship of duty and love. It is impossible to love God and refuse to obey His every word. The wise man concludes that a man who sins against God to the destruction of the soul loves death!

How could a man love death? The reality of life and death is understood by those who refuse to obey the word of God. Many will look at the Bible with disdain and contempt. They refuse to submit themselves to the word of God. It is possible they have a belief in God, accepting He is real and He had a Son, Jesus Christ. But when it comes to doing what God says, the heart refuses to submit. The conclusion is clear. That person who says he loves God and refuses to obey the word of God – hates God and loves death. If a man driving down a road sees a sign saying, “Danger – Bridge Out Ahead – Certain Death,” why would he continue driving down that road? Those who say they love God and refuse to obey Him are driving down the road to their deaths. And they love death. They embrace their demise. Refusing to obey God will end in the lake of fire and brimstone.

There is a reality that faces all men that most men deny. Most people love death. Jesus said so. The majority of people that die do not rest in peace. They awaken in torment because they loved death more than life. For a man to sin against God is to wrong his eternal spirit. They hate God and love death. How sad. The end of the road of sin is eternal death with no change. To find life, you must seek the Lord God. Find favor with God and obey Him. Love God instead of death.