A Message to the Sinner

 by Levi Bailey

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. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs 23:29-35, King James Bible

Most people would only directly relate this to the obvious theme of alcohol and drunkenness, which isn’t wrong, but it can be more. Forgive me if this is accidentally allegorical, but I would like to use this passage and try to make it point to all sins. 

• The attitude of sin
  

Sin always says, “As long as I’m happy, everything’s fine.” Sin always says, “It’s just a little bit…” The heart of sin disobeys wisdom’s commandment in this very chapter: “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” Sin is too cheap for righteousness, and at the drop of a hat, it will sell righteousness for some weird, wicked pleasure. Sin always says, “Do as thou wilt.” Sin says, “Follow your heart.” Sin always says, “It’s MY life, shouldn’t I do what I want to do in MY good time? After all, I’M not here for a long time, I’M here for a good time!” Sin says, “I don’t need a boss, I’M MY OWN BOSS.”

• The emotional characteristics of someone deep in sin:
  
• He is woeful and anxious at all times
  
• He is always dealing with sorrow and depression
  
• He always has a chip on his shoulder
  
• He is confused in all areas of his life, but especially in his speech
  
• He carelessly and causelessly hurts himself
  
• He is constantly and easily fatigued and worn
  

(v. 29)

Why must this man go through such pain and agony? He doesn’t have to! The dumbest thing that any person can do, saved or unsaved (but especially saved), is to go out, live in sin, basically spit in God’s face, then ask God THIS QUESTION when He punishes him: “WHY are you DOING this to ME, Lord???” I know that the Bible says we’ve all sinned (Romans 3:23), but this verse is supposed to draw us CLOSER to God, not further! Don’t forget, we CAN’T make it without the Lord!
III.   God’s warning about sin.
The Lord tells us to be sober and vigilant, for our Adversary, Satan, is after us all the time, roaming around, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). He also tells us to “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” (Proverbs 8:33) Wisdom cries out all the time: “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul, all they that hate Me love death!” (Proverbs 8:36) There is a giant warning to not drink the wine of sin throughout the 23rd chapter of Proverbs: Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. (vv. 31-32) It gives another warning earlier in the chapter about GLUTTONY: When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. (vv. 1-3)

IV. The consequences of sin:
These consequences are for those who are lost in their sin, curse God every single day, and don’t give a hoot about their eternity.

• Their eyes feast on harlots and strange women
  

It’s very interesting how many labels, ads, and billboards for straight up sin have women as the main attraction. The world today has been eaten up with pornography, alcohol, drugs, sexual immorality, etcetera, and women are the main attraction for it. Why? Women are attractive, alluring, and seducing.

• Their hearts settle in perversion and immorality as if it is everyday life.
  

This is the success of the trap set by the alluring and seduction of women. Wanna know a reason why sexual immorality is so high today? It’s in the way that people dress. Modesty is the key.

• They ignorantly put themselves in extreme peril.
  

This is just like someone who is sleepwalking over the Grand Canyon. They’re in danger, but they don’t know where they are, what they’re doing, or who they are in that moment. They fall and laugh all the way because of their mental and spiritual state in that moment.

• They are numb to pain as they experience this living nightmare.
  
• When they awake, they seek the same nightmare once again, until they eventually kill themselves, their brains, and their hopes for an eternity in heaven.
  

Stay away from sin. Life will be so much easier for you. You can have joy in the middle of the darkest night because you have a God who gives you grace to help you stay separate. If you don’t know what God I am talking about, then PLEASE get saved today.

A Note from Focus Ministries: We'd be happy to discuss God, sin, and salvation with you if you have any questions. If you aren't saved, there's no judgement here, but we care about your soul and so does God. Your life could end at any moment; don't wait till the last second to cry out to God. He's ready to listen RIGHT NOW. "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2b).