“The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways” (Proverbs 14: 14a)
Backsliding is a turning away from God and a returning to the former ways of sin. Though spiritual declension may not be sudden in onset, it can escalate rapidly. What starts off as “a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep” (Prov 24: 33) can degenerate quickly so that the wayward soul soon becomes comfortable with sin. The heart grows cold towards the Lord and passion for the things of God wanes. A lukewarm heart has replaced the initial zeal for God. The backsliding Christian returns to gratifying his fleshly appetites and sinful desires.
One who wanders from the Lord pays a heavy price. In our article last week, we looked at two sad consequences of backsliding: 1) A reproach to God; and 2) Loss of peace and joy. What are the other damaging effects of spiritual declension?
3. Harmful effects upon the family and church
No man sins alone. Our sins will hurt others. Our family members may have to suffer because of our folly and wilfulness. In the case of King David, his sins deeply affected his whole family. Though the Lord had forgiven him, he had to bear the sad consequences of his sins. The prophet Nathan told the king that the child born from his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba would die (II Sam 12: 14). Moreover, “the sword shall never depart from thine house” (II Sam 12: 10). His sons, Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah sinned wickedly and paid with their lives.
Within the church, the backslider’s inconsistencies and bad example may stumble the spiritually weak or the young in faith. The apostle Paul exhorts the Roman Christians not to “put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way” (Rom 14: 13b).
4. Divine chastisement
When a Christian chooses to go his own way, God, as a loving Heavenly Father, will administer discipline to bring the erring child back to the right way: “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Heb 12: 5-7).
Chastening is God’s gracious way of bringing His rebellious children back to Himself. His discipline may come in the form of an accident, a serious illness, bereavement or losses.
Divine chastisement serves not only to stir in us a deeper devotion to the Lord, but also to rouse us from our spiritual coldness and indifference. God’s rod awakens us to our waywardness and enables us to appreciate the blessed benefits of His correcting hand (Ps 94: 12, 119: 71).
Should the Lord smite us for setting Him aside, let us not despise His discipline (Prov 3: 11; cf Job 5: 17). Submit to His correction for He does it “for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” (Heb 12: 10b).
Whenever God’s hand is laid upon us, pray that He might show us how we have sinned. Search our depraved heart for areas of coldness, wilfulness and rebellion. Like Job, let us pray: “Cause me to understand where I have erred” (Job 6: 24); “show me wherefore thou contendest with me” (Job 10: 2). Turn from our sins and seek the Lord’s forgiveness. When chastised, we need to view God not only as our Father, but also as our Teacher. We will learn precious lessons if we cultivate a teachable spirit. Let us consider our ways and return to the Lord.
Conclusion
As we have seen, backsliding yields bitter fruits. The wayward soul loses out spiritually and physically. Moreover, he has to suffer the “hot displeasure” of the Lord in chastisement (Ps 6: 1; 38: 1).
Brethren, let us check our own lives. What is the state of our soul today? Are we spiritually well? Have we wandered far from the Lord and from the safety of His fold? If we have, let us resolve to return to the Lord. He promises to restore all who turn to Him with repentant hearts: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (II Chron 7: 14); “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isa 55: 6-7). May we once again renew our communion with the Lord and regain the joy of our salvation. Amen.
– Pastor