Proverbs 15:10

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about the fallout of sin:

Proverbs 15:10 (ESV)

There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;

whoever hates reproof will die.

Seldom do we think about the consequences of sin.   When we yield to sin's charms we are so intensely thinking about the pleasures of sin we fail to see the fallout.   In the above proverb, Solomon gives us a strong reminder of what will happen when we leave the path of righteousness.  The warning is serious. It is severe.  It is deadly.   Whereas the world may think there are minor repercussions for disobeying God, His Word says differently.   There are not just punishments in store for those who forsake the way, there are "severe" punishments.  The NIV uses the word, "stern."    The second line in the proverb adds to the meaning of the first.   It will be more than grievous and stern when we fail to follow God's Word.  It says it will lead to death.  When we fail to follow Christ in faith we will end up in the way of death.   Proverbs 7 ends the same way.   The naive one will follow the ways of sins and fall into the pit of death.  Scripture is full examples of people who rejected Christ's righteousness and fall into the pit of death.   This proverb is a reminder to them and everyone else.