“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways” (Proverbs 14: 14a)
Backsliders are Christians who have turned aside from following the Lord. As highlighted in our first two articles, backsliding begins in the heart, long before the outward signs are obvious (such as missing church and fellowship meetings). This is a reminder for us to guard our hearts because of its sinful and deceitful nature (Prov 4: 23; Jer 17: 9).
Backsliding usually starts gradually with a careless regard for the things of God. The backslider begins to entertain vain thoughts and grows weary of spiritual duties. As his love for God grows cold, the backslider yields to a self-indulgent spirit and compromises with seemingly small sins. Quite often, backsliders fall into some sinful habits like bitterness, anger, murmuring and gossiping.
It is folly for a Christian to stray away from the Lord. Such a wayward soul loses out in many ways. C H Spurgeon explains: “When a child runs away from its home because it has a brutal parent, it is excused; but when the child leaves a tender mother and an affectionate father, what shall we say? If the sheep quits a barren field to seek after needed pasturage, who shall blame it? But if it leaves the green pastures, and forsakes the still waters to roam over the arid sand, or to go bleating in the forest among the wolves, in the midst of danger, how foolish a creature it proves itself! We have forsaken a throne for a dunghill! .... We have left gold for dross ... and the blossoming of the roses ... to shiver in frozen regions among the ice caves and snow of absence from the Lord’s presence.”
What are some sad results of backsliding?
o A reproach to God
When a Christian lives to please God, the watching world sees his good witness and gives glory to God: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5: 16). However, when a Christian drifts away from God, his poor testimony shames the Lord’s name.
When King David fell into grievous sin through his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband, Uriah, the Lord rebuked him for giving “great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme” (II Sam 12: 14a). That was not the only sad result of his sins. The prophet Nathan also told the erring king that “the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die” (v 14b). This was a clear testimony of God’s displeasure at the sins of the backslidden king.
“The wicked people of that generation, the infidels, idolaters, and profane, would triumph in David’s fall, and speak ill of God and of his law, when they saw one guilty of such foul enormities that professed such an honour both for him and it. ‘These are your professors! This is he that prays and sings psalms, and is so very devout! What good can there be in such exercises, if they will not restrain men from adultery and murder?’ … To this day there are those who reproach God, and are hardened in sin, through the example of David” (Matthew Henry).
o Loss of peace and joy
The backslider is in a most miserable state because he has tasted God’s of goodness and grace. But having now forsaken God, he loses the comfort of His abiding presence (Ps 51:11).
The backslider suffers a growing sense of guilt as he tries to put up a false front of piety. He is certainly a distressed and troubled soul. Inwardly, there is neither peace nor joy: “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night, thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture was turned into the drought of summer” (Ps 32: 3-4). In these two verses, King David revealed his troubled state of mind before his confession and restoration.
Conclusion
Backsliding produces bitter fruits of guilt, misery and reproach. As children of God, we will never be happy in sin. We will never feel satisfied when we live to please ourselves, to cater to our fleshly lusts. True joy and satisfaction come from surrendering our lives fully unto our Lord Jesus Christ. He promises peace and rest to all who come to Him: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt 11: 28-30).
If we truly belong to God’s family, we will have to return to Him. The Lord promises to restore us unto Himself. He says, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him” (Hos 14: 4). (… to be continued)
– Pastor