Confessions of a Restored Backslider – Epilog

The truth that we must all be aware of is that all believers are prone to backslide at some point and time in their walk with Christ.  There is only one cure for our tendency to backslide and that is solely found in the presence of Jesus.  He is the one who provides us a way or means of escape.  All who seek Him will also find the grace needed resting securely in the hands of Jesus.  His grace is unlimited, His forgiveness is ongoing and his mercy, as always, is most graciously and everlasting. 

The one thing that all believers must also realize is that although His grace is always extended and His mercy always available, His patience can be tested.  We will find restoration, that is a promise in Scripture, but there will be times when consequence attached to the restoration received may be unbearable, more than imagined or expected.  Our God is merciful as He is gracious, He is also just and His justice must be served.  He cannot always give without the necessity of consequences.  This is why we must not forget to take into consideration the book of Hebrews chapters 10 and especially chapter 12 when we look at the Gods plan in restoring the backslider.  These passages of Scripture teach us that with God there is a point of no return to the once precious state of relationship as we once had.  We can come to a place in our walk with God that we may seek repentance with tears but the restoration that we seek may be unattainable.  Note: “For you know that afterward, when he (Esau) wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” (Hebrews 12:17).  Forgiveness may be granted, the relationship mended but the closeness in the relationship will not be as sweet as it once was.  We must stand thankful before God even in the presence of the consequences that we must endure because of His Justice.  

Restoration from backsliding comes at a price and that price will be a bitter pill to swallow.  The writer of Hebrews was well aware of this yet at the same time he paints a solemn picture of the retribution received by the believer which is deemed justified by a Holy God to those who are in His care.  This truth is noted in Hebrews 12:24-29, “And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (25) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (26) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (27) And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (28) Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (29) For our God is a consuming fire.”  Notice that verse states that His grace is still extended but he exposes this truth to us in the light of the Justice of God must be satisfied.  The writer states that He is a consuming fire; He will enact chastisement where chastisement is due.  He will be honored and He will be glorified in our joyful walk or in the midst of suffering. 

And we must not forget that the Word of God is most often clear on topics of importance.  The Word of God has to be clear on this topic because this is a subject that all of the body of Christ deals with.  It does not matter if you are a new believer or a long standing believer; we all struggle with and have the potential to backslide.  Backsliding cannot remain a secret sin as it will eventually cross all relationship boundaries, from self, family, social, religious and most importantly spiritual boundaries.  Our relationship with God is drastically affected because of our backsliding and that is why God is passionate against His children creating this sin.  It is no clearer stated than in it is in the book of Hebrews where we read, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (31) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:26-31)  God did not tolerate the backslidings of the Children of Israel and He does not do so with His children today.  As we read in this passage we see that He has a no tolerance policy.  We know from Lamentations that the Mercies and Grace of God toward us are renewed daily, “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”(Lamentations 3:22-23)  But this renewing does not provide us with a license or free run to sin.  Remember Hebrews 10:31 above?  It is truly a fearful thing to think that we as Gods children can call out His wrath upon ourselves but that is exactly what one does who continues to live in a backslidden state.  

An unrepentant “believer” should never rest in a state of backsliding but should live in a state of unrest.  We could almost say that the backslidden believer should walk as it were on in a state of fear as if taking every step on egg shells. There should be no rest...no warrant given especially to the believer when it comes to backsliding.  This sinful state is a direct slap in the face of the Savior who came and died for them.  Notice verses 29 and 30 from Hebrews 10 above where the writer states, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (30) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.” (Heb 10:29-30)  Notice the words “sorer punishment” and “who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God” or “counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing” or worse yet “hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”  God says that He will enact His own vengeance, He will make His own recompense and as stated, He shall judge His People.  What does that look like? I do not know nor do I want to personally find out but I can speculate and that is enough to scare me.  

I do believe that we should be leery in offering any backslider comfort as well because they must see the need to repent or they will face the fury of the Lord.  I would not want to get in between the Lord and the backslider that He is dealing with.  Scripture is clear in stating that the backslider can expect to face a “…certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:27). 

We must not be guilty of presuming upon the mercies of God while backsliding. His judgment is as sure as it is Just.  His mercy will up hold because of His Grace but for how long will He withhold His own hand against His own?  Only God Himself really knows.  I will end this blog series with this one thought, Hebrews 10:37-39 says, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”  He will come, that is His promise, the just must live by faith and that faith rests in the promise of His coming.  He says that He has no pleasure in those who backslide and we know from the history of Israel that He is not afraid or ashamed to punish those that He has no pleasure in.  The only news that is promising in this is that he still keeps his promise to see even the backslider in heaven, But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.  Jesus himself said that those that the Father had given Him he had lost none, John 17:12.

I am reminded of a statement my mother used to say to me when I was a little boy, “Just wait till your Father gets home.”  Now I see in this passage the words springing forth, “Just wait till you get home to the Father.”