Spiritual decline is characteristic of the end times we are now living
in. Will believers be affected by this turning away from the faith?
The
believers’ spiritual status is not static. Though we have been enlightened by
the truth and transformed by the Holy Spirit, there is no iron-clad guarantee
we won’t change. http://bit.ly/1deSgkU
That’s because we are sinful by nature. And, because we have a will, we can choose to remain in God’s favour or
reject Him.
How else can we account for the likes
of Peter, Judas or Demas?
We are sinful by nature. While
there is no sin that God’s grace and mercy cannot avail, we
must not swing to the other extreme and underestimate the reality of our inner
nature. http://bit.ly/1awc42C
"The human
heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really
knows how bad it is?”
(Jeremiah 17:9).
In the Parable of the Sower, the seed which fell
among thorns represents those who receive God’s message well at first but later
get choked by life’s worries, riches and
pleasures. The result is that they fail to mature and
bear fruit, unlike the seed which fell on good soil (Luke
8:14-15).
Various push and pull factors can cause even genuine believers to fall away and deny
Christ—whose blood was shed for our sins.
Push factors include persecution, the use of duress, blackmail
and threats to one’s family, property, security or survival. One example is
forced denial through gunpoint.
Pull factors include the lust for power, riches and fleshly
pleasures. Initially this ‘pull category’ merely causes believers to backslide.
As the spiritual decline worsens, the heart may become hardened—and satan has a
veritable foothold in their lives. Evil indulgences and pursuit may then lead
to a ‘point of no return’—where even genuine believers may deny God.
If we believers think we
are strong, we would do well to heed this warning: “So, if
you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
(1 Corinthians 10:12).
Even those who are
supposed to be examples to the flock have fallen. Christian leaders can
backslide and deny Christ. And great is the fall when big names tumble from the
top. http://bit.ly/MT1BW7
In fact, believers
should not be surprised at all by the great falling
away before Jesus returns. Let’s examine two
passages—one with Jesus (Matthew 24) speaking and the other with apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2) speaking.
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24: 9-13).
“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24: 9-13).
Lawlessness will grow
from bad to worse. And during the Great Tribulation when the antichrist is revealed,
lawlessness will be at its peak:
“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the
son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called
God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God,
showing himself that he is God.”
(2 Thessalonians 2: 3-4)
"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie."
(2 Thessalonians 2: 9-11)
Highlighting an end time scenario where many believers fall away on account of persecution or deception is highly disturbing. But this is the realistic, biblical view.
Of course, it would not be fair if I fail to allude to the fact that God who began the good work in us will bring it to completion one day (Philippians 1:6).
"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie."
(2 Thessalonians 2: 9-11)
Highlighting an end time scenario where many believers fall away on account of persecution or deception is highly disturbing. But this is the realistic, biblical view.
Of course, it would not be fair if I fail to allude to the fact that God who began the good work in us will bring it to completion one day (Philippians 1:6).
However,
this does not discount the fact that we too need to play our part. Indeed, we
need to keep ourselves on our toes, spiritually
speaking.
- Work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
- Build ourselves up in our most holy faith (Jude 1:20).
- Be all the more diligent to confirm our calling and election (2 Peter 1:10).
- Bear fruits that befit repentance (Luke 3:8).
- Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him (2 Peter 3:14).
For narrow is the gate
and difficult is the way
which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:14).
So watch and pray that we will have the strength to endure these difficult and tumultuous
end times:
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
(Luke 21:34-36)
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THE GREAT FALLING AWAY
If
you think genuine believers cannot fall away and lose their salvation, think
again. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and
dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are
BURNT" (John 15:6). The context of John chapter 15: Jesus was addressing
believers as branches attached to the Vine (Christ).
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