“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” (Prov 8:35,36).
In this chapter as elsewhere in the book of Proverbs, God makes reference to Himself as Wisdom which simply implies approaching all of life from God’s point of view, believing everything God says is right and true and the only sure standard by which to live. This is why gaining wisdom is said to be far better than possessing gold and silver, as only those who possess wisdom can have a proper relationship with God. Jesus is said to be the final and ultimate expression of God’s wisdom and that we receive His wisdom by remaining in His Word and allowing His words to remain in us (John 15:7).
Seeking God’s wisdom has the great reward of a life of meaningful significance here upon earth. In contrast, those failing to seek to walk in paths chosen by God for our lives will incur damage to their souls, both in this life and eternally. Even if not intentional, their failure to seek godly wisdom will find themselves following the ways of Satan who has come to steal, kill and destroy and “love death” without deliberately meaning to do so. Seeking to walk in obedience to the principles set forth by God in the Word seems to be increasingly less appealing as time passes, exactly as prophesied by both Jesus and His apostles for the latter days.
It is almost as though people choose to ignore the fact that they have but one life, after which they are destined to die and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Satan has proven so successful in his deception of humanity that even a considerable number of professing Christians do not believe there is a literal place known as hell to which all who refuse to live according to the will of God will find themselves condemned: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). There are many false prophets in the land of whom Jesus warns by saying they dress in sheep’s clothing (i.e., graduates of bible schools and seminaries) and teach that simplly saying a so-called ‘sinner’s prayer’ will assure eternity in heaven, even apart from living a righteous life by faith.
