Sliding Back
Each week I sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in sharing with you a message that will be strength, encouragement and counsel. This week’s message is one that has been on my heart for some time:”How does a person lose out with God and not really know it?”
The joy that floods the heart when a person first comes to know Christ as Lord is without parallel. It is unspeakable. A state of euphoria may exist for weeks or months as the person rejoices in his fellowship with Christ.
By and by Satan makes a casual visit just to see how things are going. A trial will come upon the young Christian. A battle will have to be fought. Chances are that the first battle will be very small and subtly devised giving little hint of the Devil.
The young Christian may decide that salvation has been accomplished and there is no need for further growth. “I am just happy to be a Christian” displaces spiritual hunger for a more consecrated life in the Spirit. A plateau is reached. The mountain has been climbed. The struggle is past. Christianity has become an object possessed. There is no need for further prayer.
Spiritual satisfaction quickly welcomes other devilish companions to join in the struggle to re-claim the soul for Satan. The next move is for the Demon of Egotism to convince the young Christian that it is best to keep religion a private matter. There is no need to talk about personal and intimate things. While this is contrary to the Scriptures, the young Christian is advised by whispering spirits not be burdened by the Bible. The conscience is sufficient as spiritual guide.
If the young Christian believes this last perpetrated lie – conscience is the spiritual guide – then other demons are readily advised to join in the battle to reclaim the soul.
Now the battle becomes more nasty. The family of the young Christian begins to attack the failings of the struggling soul:”You are no better than I am”, “If you have religion, I don’t want it”, “I thought you said you gave your heart to Christ”, and “Hypocrite” are just a few epithets hurled.
By now, of course, the young Christian has decided that one can be a Christian and only go to church when convenient. The Bible that was read in the days just after salvation is still considered important, but it is embarrassing to carry it or be seen reading it.
A complacency develops. It is accompanied by the conscience-soothing art of deciding that the church is concerned only about money. Second, the church is not perfect. Third, some of the people in the church do things that are not right. Fourth, the preacher has faults.
The groundwork is fully laid for the last great battle. Will the demons of Hell try to persuade the young weakened Christian to fully turn away from Christ? Will they try to bring the young Christian to an open denial that Christ is not Lord? THE ANSWER IS NO!
There is a better plan. The young Christian must be convinced to blend some of the old with some of the new. Keep a little religion, but don’t make a spectacle of it. Withdraw from the church to a respectful relationship. Have a church home that will allow indulgence in sinful activities. Withdraw from any active part in the church, but continue to give enough to convince others that it is the “family” church. This, hopefully, will deter the minister from preaching too strongly.
Now seven times more demons are invited to join in the battle. The end of this person will be worse than the beginning.
Caught in the midst of dire straits and sliding ever downward in greater unbelief the erring “Christian” now recognizes that his joy is gone. His salvation is questionable. Is there hope?
God calls out: “Return, thou backslider…saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity…and I will heal your backslidings” (Jeremiah 3:12, 13, 22).
The same cross, the same Christ, the same confession must be made as when Christ was invited into the heart as Saviour. There is no sacrifice. The blood of Jesus atones for all sin. The backslider can only be healed by kneeling again at Calvary.
I believe in my heart that I am writing to someone who has slid back from their promise to God. Return to Christ while there is mercy. His grace is sufficient. I will be praying that you will make this decision to restore your commitment. The Lord is waiting on you. Why not pray now? (Ephesians 2:8,9)
With Love,
Pastor Bare
(Note: This Pastor’s Heart was written and published July 7, 1982)