In conversations twice this week, we have discussed those
who started out with an interest in spiritual truth and even made a profession
of faith yet have turned away and seem no longer interested in things of the
Lord. Did they lose their first love? Or did they not love Jesus in the first
place? Were they Christians? Or did they just try to act like believers but
without genuine faith?
Of course we do not have the answers. God knows the hearts
of all people; this is not for us to know. Yet so many times I’ve wanted to
know, usually because such information would help me pray. What kind of
requests do I make for those who seem to have lost whatever faith they once
had?
This morning, I read a long passage about the danger of
falling away. The Greek term is apostate.
With a bit of study, this word can mean several things. It is the context that
is important. Here, the warning is to Hebrew converts who are suffering
persecution and thinking they were better off in their old system of worship
with its rituals and rule. They are told that Christ is better in every way and
going back is not a good idea because salvation does not work like that . . .
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. (Hebrews 6:4–9)
Faith produces results, like a useful crop. Unbelief
produces results too, like thorns and thistles. If I believe in Jesus Christ
and that He lives in me and has changed my life, I live differently than I once
did. However, if I abandon that faith, my life will be show it. I could be anything
from indifferent or angry against God and His plan of salvation. This is not to
say I cannot repent of my unbelief and rejection of the truth. It does say that
being restored through the same way that I was saved is not possible. I cannot
be born again twice. Backsliders are restored, not re-saved.
What then is apostasy? One theologian says this is totally
related to daily life, not any theological ideas or abstractions. As James’
epistle says, true faith must and will be lived out. That means apostasy is
unbelief that shows up in life. This may happen in various ways such as “in the fierceness of the renegade or in the
quiet alienation of the outsider; it may be exhibited in moral disintegration
or in persecution of the saints.” It could also show up as going to church
as ritual rather than worship, praying as duty rather than in communion with
God, and loving my neighbors because it feels good rather than because God
loves me.
In other words, apostasy is not always total. As one pastor
put it, all of us are prodigals from time to time. That is, a Christian might
be filled with all sorts of doubts and be double-minded in several ways. Many Christians
experience the war of flesh vs. Spirit with the flesh winning more often than
not.
The sad part is that the more the flesh is given the nod,
the less a person is able to hear God and be convicted or even concerned about
what God is saying. Their life reflects their “I wants” rather than His will and they began to look as if they
were never saved in the first place. These folks may also doubt within
themselves that they belong to God.
No wonder the Bible if full of warnings against unbelief,
disobedience and turning away. It puts backsliders and apostates outside the
blessings of an intimate relationship with Jesus.
The assurance from this and other passages is that this
way of thinking-acting has no future. It is bound to darkness which shall pass
away. Its power is merely the suggestive power of deception from which all believers
are called back to steadfast perseverance:
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11–12)
Lord Jesus, my commentary says considering the richness of
God’s grace, those who walk with You wonder why anyone would want to walk away.
However, Your Word is clear; this falling away is a real danger and “not the way of rational theodicy; it is the
way of struggle, the good fight, fought with clear recognition of the enemy and
effective weapons” adding that these warnings are “a call for the endurance of the saints” because eventually You
will bless us as You continue to lead us through to eternity with Yourself, our
Lord God and Savior. Your promise is that You will finish what You start and I’m
to trust that and press on.
Today’s thankful list . . .
- joy from these thoughts!
- the blessing of personal prayer time with Jesus.
- a lovely fall day.
- a drive to a small-town quilt show that was worth the
trip.
- deep sleep for an hour before supper.
- able to enjoy sports on TV with my hubby.
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