I want to talk for a bit about the subject of backsliding. I heard a preacher say recently that backsliding is not usually a blow out, it's a slow leak. However, both end in no more progress forward. In other words, it doesn't happen all at once. It starts with one step. It always begins in the heart as the above graphic states.
Maybe it starts with "I don't feel like going to church today" or "I am going to skip my bible reading today" or "I don't want to go on visitation today" or "I don't have time to talk to them about Jesus right now". The heart issue comes into play when we give into these thoughts. Every time we give in, it becomes easier the next time. Just like lying gets easier each time. This goes on until we are out of the habit of doing right!
Maybe it starts with "I miss my old way of life". If we start desiring old habits and ways of life, it becomes easier to justify not following God. Remember Lot's wife? She longed for her life in Sodom so much that she looked back one last time to see what she was giving up. Even though they were told not to look back and to keep running from there, she just couldn't move forward without regret. God turned her into a pillar of salt. He may not do that to you as a result of longing for a former sin or lifestyle before you got saved, but He may allow something else. Depression, discontentment, anger, disregard for God's Word, etc. can result from allowing these thoughts to take root and lead to action. Or should I say no action? Because that is where backsliding happens. We step back from where we once were. We step back little by little from what is right. In addictions we call that "falling off the wagon" or "relapsing". When this happens we stop moving forward. We not only stagnate where we are but actually go backwards at times. We stop reading our bible and praying and then we stop enjoying preaching, going to church or doing things around the church or with church family.
Praise God! We don't have to stay in a backslidden condition! We just take one step, back in the right direction and God accepts us back! God forgives and we can then move forward.
Hosea 11:7a - And my people are bent to backsliding from me;
But...
Psalm 103:14 - For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are but dust.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Proverbs 28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and foresaketh them shall have mercy.
Let's do our best to keep stepping forward for God and not backslide into somewhere we don't want to end up.
Have a blessed day.
