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What causes Christian men and women to fall? Why are some once-godly
church members now far from the Lord? What leads to the miserable,
unhappy condition that calls for spiritual restoration?
I don't know all the factors involved, but
maybe I can put my finger on at least a few of the reasons Christians
fall. I have observed four basic tendencies that are often causes for
backsliding. They are:
1. Giving in to our weaknesses.
2. Placing the temporal above the eternal.
3. Taking our blessings for granted.
4. Letting sorrow or disappointment overcome
us.
Self-evaluation can be profitable. I therefore
encourage you, as we think about these causes for spiritual decline,
to look closely at your own life. Ask yourself this question:
"Am I in need of spiritual restoration?" A correction now
may save you years of heartache later on, and it will bring true joy
back into your life.
The first reason many Christians stray from
the Lord is this:
They Give Into Their Weaknesses
There are "blind spots" in the
temperament of Christians that are open to the attack of Satan. They
find it difficult to exercise self-control in those areas. We all
have areas of vulnerability, and somehow the devil seems to know
every one of them. You can be sure that he will concentrate his
attacks at those places.
One man in particular comes to mind. He was
easygoing and tolerant. He related well to others. He had many
friends. He found it difficult to say no to anyone. But those very
things--his likable disposition and his love of people--became his
weaknesses. When he was out with the crowd, he would go along with
whatever they did. He often compromised his convictions because he
just hated to offend anyone. And because he habitually gave in to his
weaknesses, he became a poor husband, father, and provider. His
testimony was seriously hindered.
As I said, everyone has his areas of weakness.
Some people are withdrawn and moody. Others are perfectionists. Still
others are headstrong and impulsive. We should therefore be honest
with ourselves and recognize our vulnerabilities. As we acknowledge
what they are, we should be on guard continually lest we fall. We
should avoid every circumstance that might make a special appeal to
our sinful tendencies. As we ask the Lord for help we will overcome.
The power of God is greater than any temptation of the evil one.
A second underlying cause for straying from
the Lord among many Christians is this:
They Place The Temporal Above The Eternal
I'm not just talking about worldly practices,
but a preoccupation with earthly things so that we lose sight of
heavenly things. It's a matter of perspective.
"Our citizenship is in heaven," Paul
wrote in Philippians 3:20. Therefore, we sing that old gospel song:
This world is not my home,
I'm just a-passin' through;
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me
From heaven's golden shore,
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore.
Yes, as pilgrims on this earth, "we're
just a-passin' through." But so often we place the values,
attitudes, and things of this world above our commitment to Christ
and to things heavenly and eternal. Oh, I know there's nothing wrong
with a comfortable home, the enjoyment of good music and art, or the
promotion of worthwhile humanitarian projects. But none of these
should ever become more important to us than that of doing the will
of God. No, we must never exalt the world above Christ. The Lord
Jesus laid down this principle to His disciples:
No servant 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 money (Luke
16:13).
Being a Christian calls for complete surrender
to the Lord. There must never be divided loyalty between Him and the
world.
A third reason some Christians stray from the
Lord is this:
They Take Their Blessings For Granted
It is possible to be the special objects of
God's love, and to be the recipients of His manifold blessings (a
good job, a healthy family, and a successful business), and yet
forget all about the One who gave us these things in the first place.
We fail to remember that:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no
variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).
When we are richly blessed of the Lord and
fail to recognize the true source of all the good things, we tend in
our fallen human nature to become self-satisfied and to feel
self-sufficient. We fail to rely on the Lord the way we should. We
neglect Him, trusting only in ourselves.
I am reminded of these words of Moses:
When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou
shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath given
thee. Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping
His commandments, and His ordinances, and His statutes, which I
command thee this day, lest, when thou hast eaten and art full and
hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and
thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold are multiplied, and
all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and
thou forget the Lord thy God, who brought thee forth out of the land
of Egypt, from the house of bondage (Deuteronomy 8:10-14).
These words of warning are needed just as much
now in this century as they were in ancient Israel's day. Human
nature doesn't change. We are prone to take our blessings for
granted, to give ourselves the credit for our successes, and to
assume that we'll always have good health.
Missionaries working in depressed areas of the
world report that the poverty-stricken often seem much more grateful
for what they have than we who enjoy so much more. Oh, we may say a
prayer of thanks, but too often there is no real appreciation. Yes,
taking God's blessings for granted and failing to recognize and
acknowledge His goodness can lead to spiritual decline. When we count
our blessings, therefore, let us remember from whom they come, and be
careful to express our gratitude to Him in both what we say and what
we do.
A fourth reason why some believers stray from
the Lord is this:
They Let Sorrow Overcome Them
Some Christians go into a tailspin of
self-pity or anger against God when tragedy strikes them. I heard
about a man that told his minister that when two of his children died
in auto accidents within a year, he felt a spirit of rebellion well
up within him. He quit reading the Bible, he refused to go to church,
and he prayed very little. But he finally realized that he was the
loser. He saw that he was shutting himself off from the special grace
and strength he needed from God. And in time he came back home to the
Lord.
I wonder, could it be that you have allowed
some disappointment or sorrow to overcome you? As a result, you are
resentful toward the Lord. You're angry and bitter today. You're out
of fellowship with Him. You're miserable and unhappy, and you know
it. I would encourage you to read Romans 8:28--and believe it!
And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to
his purpose. (Rm 8:28)
The Christian who really takes God at His Word
will be sustained and victorious even through the most difficult
trials and deepest sorrows of life. The one who doubts God's Word,
however, may be overcome by his disappointment and go down to
spiritual defeat.
In the light of what we've been discussing, I
remind you of this old saying: "An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure." Yes, preventive medicine is extremely
important. The more quickly a disease is detected and treated, the
less serious will be its consequences. The same is true in the
spiritual realm.
If you are far from the Lord, the way home to
joy and fellowship is open to you. It's the pathway of confession,
commitment, and submission. The Lord stands ready to forgive you if
you are willing to acknowledge and forsake your sins.
The Bible assures us:
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Doing that, you will be taking your first and
all-important step in finding your way back to the Father and home.
May God help you, right now, to do so, and to pray in the words of
that wonderful old hymn:
I've tired of sin and straying, Lord-- Now I'm
coming home; I'll trust Thy love, believe Thy word-- Lord, I'm coming
home.
Curtis
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