Growing up in the Baptist church, it is often that you hear about those “back sliding Baptists”. Those that have fallen away from the faith and turned away from God. Whereas this does not happen as often as we might think, it is still something that I find interesting and is part of my study this morning.
“4For 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, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and 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.” — Hebrews 6:4-6 (ESV)
There are those that have found Christ and accepted Salvation from him and lived a life of obedience to Him, only to have reached a point to allow the world to influence them and then turn away from Him. There are a number of reasons and circumstances as to the falling away, but ultimately separation from God and the relationship with Him is the root cause. It is difficult to come back once you have fallen away from Christ, as the world has now grabbed hold and the influences and instance gratification are hard to break free from.
But:
“9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” — Hebrews 6:9-12 (ESV)
I have been with Him before and I can be with Him again. God will not abandon me even if I am fallen away. He knows the good that I have done and the way that I followed Him. He wants me to come back to Him. It will not be easy (although it starts easy enough), all that is needed is repentance that comes from within. It cannot be just words without meaning and action, repentance has to come from deep within and I have to take action to back-up and demonstrate my repentance to Him and show it to the world each and every moment.
Have you found that you have drifted or fallen away from your relationship with Christ? Are you trying to find the way to come back to Him? What if you simply repented of your ways and asked for forgiveness and just came back and began to glorify Him once again?
Trevor's Thoughts 