THE BACKSLIDER

A 'backslider' is someone who had demonstrated a commitment to God and maintained a certain standard of behavior ... but has gone back to old habits and thinking. 

When we allow a temptation to draw us away from our life in Christ, our sinful nature gains a foothold. We fall into the familiar ways we had abandoned. Though it may bring brief satisfaction to our flesh, the resulting guilt causes true believers to desperately seek restoration.  

But, when a backslider decides to return to Christ he finds that he cannot pick up where he left off. 

When David sinned, he approached the mercy-seat crying, “renew a right spirit within me.” 

Spurgeon - In this renewal, the same exercise of grace is required as at our conversion. We needed repentance then; we certainly need it now. We required faith that we might come to Christ at first; only the same grace can bring us to Jesus now. No man can be renewed without as real and true a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s energy as he felt at first because the work is as great, and flesh and blood are as much in the way now as they ever were. 

We also understand that there are events in life (such as the death of a loved one) that can cause us to experience a 'crisis of faith'. But when we go to God with our suffering instead of using it as an excuse to rebel, we will come to know the Lord more intimately than before.