“Good
understanding giveth favour:
but the way of transgressors is hard.” –Proverbs 13:15 (KJV)
but the way of transgressors is hard.” –Proverbs 13:15 (KJV)
“Life's hard. It's even harder when you're
stupid.” ― John Wayne
Every choice we
make reinforces some aspect of our thinking or behavior. The more you sin, the
easier it becomes to sin. Miss a Sunday worship assembly because you “just
don’t feel like it,” and it will easier to neglect the assemblies next week.
Before long you will find it easier to stay home than to go (cf. Heb.
10:24-25). But the reverse is also true. The more you obey God, the easier it
becomes to do so (cf. Rom. 6:19). In either case, the choices you make today
are shaping your character and influencing the choices you will make tomorrow.
Sin is always
the easier option, especially at the beginning of the Christian life. After
all, we are born sinners; sin is our default position and disposition (Psa.
58:3; Eph. 2:1-3). So it is always easier to yield to temptation than to resist
and deny it. Obedience is a harder choice. It requires us to deny ourselves and
put to death the passions and desires natural to us (Luke 9:23; Col. 3:5-11).
Sin is more fun, at least, initially. The Bible admits there is pleasure
associated with sin, but it is fleeting (Heb. 11:25). If sin was not enjoyable,
it would not be desirable. We are tempted to sin because we like how it feels,
which makes it all the more attractive, especially when we are physically or
emotionally vulnerable.
Sin may be an
easier choice, especially at first or if we persist in it, but the fruit it
bears is hard, bitter, and unpleasant. In fact, while it is easy to indulge in
sin, the longer you continue in it, the more difficult and disastrous it
becomes. Conversely, while it is harder to deny self and submit to God, the
longer you continue doing so, the sweeter and more enjoyable the life of
obedience becomes. So the more you sin, the easier it is to sin, but the less
pleasure you will find in doing so. But the more you obey, the easier it is to
obey, and the more pleasure you will have in doing so.
We could cite
numerous examples of this truth and the inverse correlation noted above. A
young man (or one not so young) who views pornography certainly receives
pleasure in doing so, but if his conscience is tender, guilt and shame will
quickly follow. The more he views it, the easier it is to do so. He may quickly
come into bondage to that desire, so that it is almost a foregone conclusion
that if left alone with an Internet connection, he will seek out pornographic
images. But the promise of pleasure rapidly diminishes. Now he finds less
pleasure in viewing pornography, not more. Just like a junkie he requires more
and more to satisfy his appetite. More images, more graphic, yet even these are
not enough. He is increasingly depressed and withdrawn, and his social
relationships become strained. He views women around him as objects, not as
people, and he thinks continually of when he will next be able to indulge his
habit and what he may find. It was easy to begin the behavior, but now he is a
slave to it. Resisting the temptation is virtually impossible. The pornography
has poisoned his life and his mind, but still he returns to it. He is drawn
again and again to the source and reason for his mental and spiritual pain.
Maybe the above
example is of little value to you, but the same principles are at work in
whatever sin you may struggle against. In marriage, the same truths apply. The
more you neglect, mistreat, or resent your spouse, the easier it will be to do
so. But the ease with which you continue in sin will only multiply
exponentially your pain. In personal spiritual disciplines, the same truths
apply. The more you neglect the Scriptures, the shallower and less frequent
your prayers, the less time you spend meditating on the things of God, the
easier it will be to continue. But the more you fill your mind with the world,
the emptier and more god-forsaken your life will seem.
Thank God for
the corresponding reality about a life of obedience, one of walking by faith
before God. It may be hard to deny the flesh. It may seem impossible to bring
our thoughts and affections and habits under control. But by God’s grace and
with the help of His Spirit, we can (Rom. 6:1-18; Php. 2:12-13; Col. 3:1-18;
1Tim. 4:7-8). As we do so, we will find the experience of obedience to be
sweeter, our fellowship with God to be richer, our awareness of His presence,
grace, and mercy to be greater, and our love and gratitude to be fuller than
ever before. The Bible calls to us: “O taste and see that the Lord is good”
(Psa. 34:8). If you are weighed down by your sin and feel unable to rise above
it, if you are helpless before temptations which you fed until they have grown
stronger than your will, and if you are empty, depressed, and despairing of
ever experiencing the joy of true fellowship with God, then pray for the Lord’s
mercy, ask boldly for His grace, lean on His Spirit, commit all of your
energies to digging into His word, and bend all your efforts toward submitting
to His will. It will become easier, and it is more than worth the sacrifice and
effort. Do hard things, and experience the reward and joy reserved for those
who yield themselves wholly to Christ. -JME
