“The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways, but a good man will be satisfied from above” Proverbs 14:14
The above verse tells us of two types of men that are very different, the backslider and the good man. But a common principle is laid down in that they are each ultimately “filled” according to the course of their life. In each case, the nature of that fullness corresponds to the nature of each one’s character. The backslider will be “filled” ultimately with misery as a result of the pursuit of his own ways, but the good man will be “filled” in the end with supreme satisfaction arising out his love for God poured out in his heart by the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit.
There are many degrees of backsliding. Certainly, the most severe is the case where one becomes apostate. These are ones who appeared to have a true change of heart and who joined themselves with God’s people, but finally turned away. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (1 John 2:19). Judas is a prime example. He professed belief, followed Christ for a time, even preached, but at last he denied Christ. And then he became full of his own ways with the torment of remorse and despair, which resulted in the taking of his own life.
Other backsliders prove finally to have real grace, but they are ones who plunge into grievous sin for a season. It begins with carelessness in their walk, which then leads to indulging the flesh in small matters, eventually growing by degrees to outright known sin. This was the path David traversed in his plummet into adultery and murder. His life would never again be the same as he experienced the fullness of his ways in personal anguish, family tragedy, and public humiliation.
Another sort of backsliding is of a more subtle nature. This form may be described to be any decline whatsoever from where one was previously in their walk with the Lord. This occurs when in some measure, however small, belief weakens, love for the Lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ cools, or zeal for corporate worship of the Lord begins to diminish.
Because of the ongoing corona virus pandemic, we as congregations were initially prevented from meeting together physically, and were forced to use on-line video conferencing for worship. Now that restrictions have been eased by the governor in Massachusetts, churches are able to meet using prescribed safety precautions like masks. There are some in congregations, however, who are not able to come for different legitimate reasons like susceptibility to the virus, or discomfort. But for others there possibly exists the temptation to simply continue attending services on-line out of mere convenience. Beware of this subtlety. Being together is an important act of worship. It’s the public gathering of God’s people on the Lord’s Day which particularly distinguishes us from the world. Further we read, “ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
In reference to backsliding, Charles Spurgeon likened the Christian life to climbing a hill of ice. In order to progress, one pulls himself forward with an ice pick, because no one ever slides up, but great efforts must be made in order not to slide backwards. As such, backsliding occurs when one ceases to go forward and begins to slide downhill. But the decline is never a straight shot. Like a mountain road, it eases one down the hill with gentle curves until one suddenly finds himself at the bottom.
A Christian in his right state with God is one who delights in God’s law, who is often in heartfelt communion with God thru prayer, who delights to be with God’s people, who is faithful in the use of the means of grace, who out of love for God is zealous in service. In general, one who begins to slide starts to fall into ways of his own which he prefers over God’s ways. He then pursues carnal things like money, amusements, ease, or position, and has little time for religion. This worldliness progressively fills the heart, and essentially seeks to supplant the fullness of Christ.
It sometimes is very difficult to exhort or rebuke one who is backsliding. They vigorously defend their behavior and become offended, not willing to turn back because of deceitful pride and self-contentedness. As such, they become “filled with their own ways.” This is to have sunk into drinking from one’s own broken cistern which can hold no water.
What about you? Are you backsliding in even the smallest measure? If so, are you still resisting and defending yourself? Are you full of yourself? Or to put it into our present-day parlance, is it all about you? If so, then now is the time to turn back in confession, and repentance. Confess your wanderings, your coolness of heart, your unforgiving spirit, and your unbelief. Oh, it won’t be easy. God chastises His children. There may be bitter consequences to your backsliding, which could result in grief and much sorrow. But as God spoke to ancient Israel, “ ‘Return, backsliding Israel, says the Lord… ‘for I am merciful’, says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever, only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God… Return, O backsliding children’, says the Lord, ‘for I am married to you’” (Jeremiah 3:12-14). So too, God says to you, “Return.”
The above verse tells us of two types of men that are very different, the backslider and the good man. But a common principle is laid down in that they are each ultimately “filled” according to the course of their life. In each case, the nature of that fullness corresponds to the nature of each one’s character. The backslider will be “filled” ultimately with misery as a result of the pursuit of his own ways, but the good man will be “filled” in the end with supreme satisfaction arising out his love for God poured out in his heart by the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit.
There are many degrees of backsliding. Certainly, the most severe is the case where one becomes apostate. These are ones who appeared to have a true change of heart and who joined themselves with God’s people, but finally turned away. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (1 John 2:19). Judas is a prime example. He professed belief, followed Christ for a time, even preached, but at last he denied Christ. And then he became full of his own ways with the torment of remorse and despair, which resulted in the taking of his own life.
Other backsliders prove finally to have real grace, but they are ones who plunge into grievous sin for a season. It begins with carelessness in their walk, which then leads to indulging the flesh in small matters, eventually growing by degrees to outright known sin. This was the path David traversed in his plummet into adultery and murder. His life would never again be the same as he experienced the fullness of his ways in personal anguish, family tragedy, and public humiliation.
Another sort of backsliding is of a more subtle nature. This form may be described to be any decline whatsoever from where one was previously in their walk with the Lord. This occurs when in some measure, however small, belief weakens, love for the Lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ cools, or zeal for corporate worship of the Lord begins to diminish.
Because of the ongoing corona virus pandemic, we as congregations were initially prevented from meeting together physically, and were forced to use on-line video conferencing for worship. Now that restrictions have been eased by the governor in Massachusetts, churches are able to meet using prescribed safety precautions like masks. There are some in congregations, however, who are not able to come for different legitimate reasons like susceptibility to the virus, or discomfort. But for others there possibly exists the temptation to simply continue attending services on-line out of mere convenience. Beware of this subtlety. Being together is an important act of worship. It’s the public gathering of God’s people on the Lord’s Day which particularly distinguishes us from the world. Further we read, “ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
In reference to backsliding, Charles Spurgeon likened the Christian life to climbing a hill of ice. In order to progress, one pulls himself forward with an ice pick, because no one ever slides up, but great efforts must be made in order not to slide backwards. As such, backsliding occurs when one ceases to go forward and begins to slide downhill. But the decline is never a straight shot. Like a mountain road, it eases one down the hill with gentle curves until one suddenly finds himself at the bottom.
A Christian in his right state with God is one who delights in God’s law, who is often in heartfelt communion with God thru prayer, who delights to be with God’s people, who is faithful in the use of the means of grace, who out of love for God is zealous in service. In general, one who begins to slide starts to fall into ways of his own which he prefers over God’s ways. He then pursues carnal things like money, amusements, ease, or position, and has little time for religion. This worldliness progressively fills the heart, and essentially seeks to supplant the fullness of Christ.
It sometimes is very difficult to exhort or rebuke one who is backsliding. They vigorously defend their behavior and become offended, not willing to turn back because of deceitful pride and self-contentedness. As such, they become “filled with their own ways.” This is to have sunk into drinking from one’s own broken cistern which can hold no water.
What about you? Are you backsliding in even the smallest measure? If so, are you still resisting and defending yourself? Are you full of yourself? Or to put it into our present-day parlance, is it all about you? If so, then now is the time to turn back in confession, and repentance. Confess your wanderings, your coolness of heart, your unforgiving spirit, and your unbelief. Oh, it won’t be easy. God chastises His children. There may be bitter consequences to your backsliding, which could result in grief and much sorrow. But as God spoke to ancient Israel, “ ‘Return, backsliding Israel, says the Lord… ‘for I am merciful’, says the Lord; ‘I will not remain angry forever, only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God… Return, O backsliding children’, says the Lord, ‘for I am married to you’” (Jeremiah 3:12-14). So too, God says to you, “Return.”