The word 'backslider' describes someone who has pulled away from his relationship with Christ. He made a commitment to the Lord but has reverted to his 'old ways'.
Note that it pertains to people who are positionally saved; not 'pretenders to the faith' who have nothing to slide back from. A 'born-again' child of God has eternal security, therefore 'backsliding' does not mean the loss of salvation ...
I give them eternal life; they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29
Even a steadfast believer in Christ may grow cold as he attempts to navigate this fallen world. The spiritual journey can be disrupted by a temporary period of doubt concerning God's divine will and oversight.
There are events in life (such as the death of a loved one) that may cause you to question God. This is acceptable as long as you go to Him with your broken heart ... rather than using it as an excuse to turn away.
When a Christian slips into this spiritually damaging frame of mind, the chastening of the Lord will relentlessly strive to bring him back. The Good Shepherd seeks out the wandering lamb ...
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Luke 15:4-6
Backsliding is usually not a sudden collapse of faith, but a 'slow drift' to where the old nature subtly reclaims its influence. You think you are on solid ground, but are actually moving away from the Lord.
There is no 'standing still' when you become a follower of Christ.
C H Spurgeon - The Christian life is very much like climbing a hill of ice. You cannot slide up. You have to cut every step with an ice ax. Only with incessant labor in cutting and chipping can you make any progress. If you want to know how to backslide, leave off going forward. Cease going upward and you will go downward of necessity.
The wonderful news is that no matter how far you've strayed, you are never out of God’s sight. His willingness to forgive and restore demonstrates His undying love for you. He anxiously awaits your return, as did the father in the parable of 'the prodigal son' ...
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Luke 15:20
If you are a 'backslider', come back to the Lord. Set your eyes on Him and climb that 'hill of ice' with perseverance.
No comments:
Post a Comment