Backslider

Shine or Stumble

Ken

“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:18-19 KJV). Either we are shining or stumbling, but not both, at least at the same time. You cannot be going opposite directions simultaneously. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [riches]” (Matthew 6:24). Even the world says, You can’t have it both ways. It seems that the Church of Laodicea went back and forth between hot and cold for Christ, so much so, they were characterized as lukewarm — fit only to be vomited out of the mouth of Christ. “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:16). 

If we develop the position we are saved-and-sure-to-go-to-heaven, but we’ll simply lose some rewards because of our present sinning, then Jesus disagrees. Why? Any confidence of our salvation based upon past actions and not upon a present walk of obedience with the Lord, lacks the testimony of the Holy Spirit. “He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1John 2:4). How can this be? We confuse our intellectual memory of the past with the Holy Spirit’s testimony. We are dead, if the Holy Spirit says we’re dead. And, we’re only alive, if the testimony of Scripture says we’re alive. “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep [Greek, tēreō, are keeping, i.e., present tense] His commandments” (1John 2:3). I’ve met many Professed Christians living in open sin, who still console themselves with their hope of Heaven, because they remember getting saved. The only way to prove you are a backslider is to “be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19)! 

Father, deliver Your Church from comforting Professed Christians, who are abiding in sin, with any hope of Heaven. May we agree with the testimony of Your Spirit, when there is open and known sin. May Your Church separate itself from the practice of sinning. And, may we gather inspiration from Your Spirit to walk in obedience. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Hope for the Prodigal

Ken

How often do you think about sons and daughters, who once enjoyed your close fellowship as disciples, but now bear little resemblance to Christ? Especially for you, Christ’s Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is meant for your encouragement. Christ had just reproved the “Pharisees and scribes” (15:2) for their hypocrisy of not rejoicing in the penitence of the “publicans and sinners” (15:1), when they would rejoice over the recovery of one lost sheep (15:4-7) or one lost coin (15:8-10). His story of the Prodigal Son reminds Christian parents that our Heavenly Father yearns to restore our hardened, impenitent children, but first they must be reduced “to be in want” (15:14) of their former provisioned circumstances, and be Spirit led to confess their need (15:17-18). Only then can the Holy Spirit “give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2Timothy 2:25). The Father restores gladly, but the rest of the family needs to understand the Spirit filled significance of using the bounty of the Body of Christ to call Home the wayward. LORD, You are the Good Father watching for the return of our prodigal children. Your compassion is encouragement they will return. Make us to prosper to draw them home. Make it to be so. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.