There is difference between someone who falls because
of a broken leg
and one who is down as he trips over a stone. The one
who tripped over a
stone can straighten himself up and walk immediately.
However the person
with broken leg can walk only after it is cured. In the
same way, there is
difference between the person who is defeated and enslaved
by the enemy
and the one who is still fighting in a battle. The fighting
person keeps
himself from being subdued by the enemy. But he who is
conquered, lives
the lowly life of a slave. A person who sins and continues
to sin is won over
by sin and satan and remains a slave to sin.
In the battle between Amalek and the Israelites under
the leadership of
Joshua, though Amalek was victorious when Moses let his
hands down,
Israel won the battle finally when Moses' hands were
held up steadily.
Likewise, the one who struggles relentlessly against
sin continues to fight
on and ultimately overcomes it even if he fails once
or twice. He who
carefully observes the commandment "thou shalt not covet",
could
accidentally let his eyes wander, induced by his own
fleshly desires or by
satan. Later, convicted by the Holy Spirit, he confesses
and cleanses
himself. Such a person is neither fallen nor a backslider.
Someone who
considers the sewerage filthy will never like to come
in contact with it. By
chance if some animal shakes it's tail and causes the
filth to splash on his
dress, he immediately cleanses himself. Such a person
would never like his
dress to be dirtied again by the filth. On the other
hand, a buffalo will seek
the sewerage even after washed with good water. If someone
who leads a
Christian life after being washed and cleansed by the
blood of Jesus is
drawn away by his own desire and goes after what he desired,
attains it
and continues to remain in it, then, he or she is a fallen
person, fallen in
sin! If someone is baptized after removing her jewels
and makes a
covenant with Christ to live as His slave (in accordance
to His will), but later
puts on her jewels enticed by the worldly attractions,
she breaks her
covenant, and is therefore fallen. She is fallen down
of a broken leg,
unable to progress on the Christian path. Such a person
is a slave to sin
and is like swine which loves filth. He or she is like
the senseless buffalo.
God wants to straighten up such persons. God is willing
to deliver them
from their bondage. The Lord wishes to cleanse and make
use of such
persons.
The Lord who lifted up king David through Nathan would
also lift you up (II
Sam 12:13). The Lord who saved Joshua the chief priest
from being
harmed by satan by ordering those who stood before Him
to remove the
filthy garments worn by Joshua and clothe him with clean
garments, would
rescue you too (Zach. 3:1-5). Children of God are praying
for you who are in
sin which is not unto death. Therefore receive life (I
John 5:16).
You waste time! Don't neglect the opportunity that comes
your way to rise.
God sends his ministers with his words in order to lift
you up. Don't neglect
their counsels. You are like a pot that is marred while
the potter was
shaping from the clay; As the potter forms it into another
pot shaping it as
seemed best to him, so shall the Lord set you upright
if you repent of your
evil desires and deeds (Jer. 18:4-8).
The Lord showed through the following revelation what
would happen to a
backslider or a fallen man if he is negligent to renew
himself over a
prolonged period of time: A honorable man of God is washing
his clothes
sitting on a staircase. At that time, a backslider comes
to him. Immediately
the man of God takes pity on him and unmindful of the
soap in his hands,
attempts to counsel him. As both of them descend a few
steps planning to
sit together and discuss, two worldly persons suddenly
appear and occupy
the seats which they selected for discussion. Realizing
that satan is trying
to hinder, they come down a few more steps to find a
place to talk. Then
the backslider sees his friends at a distance and tells
the man of God that
he will meet his friends, talk to them and come back.
The man of God
allows him to go. After talking with his friends, the
backslider returns. Now
he looks a few years younger. When the man of God attempts
to start the
discussion, the backslider sees some adolescents playing
at a distance
and leaves promising to return after playing with them
for some time. The
man of God is waiting patiently. As the backslider returns
after sometime,
he looks younger by a few more years. As the man of God
hastens to start
the discussion again, the backslider sees some children
playing around and
goes there. As the time passes away, the man of God returns
to his place.
Now the backslider who returns after playing with the
children, looks like a
child. Therefore he is not fit to receive teaching at
this stage since it will
not be useful to him.
Thus that Christian backslider remained unrenewed since
he neglected the
opportunities given to him by God to renew himself. Beloved
brother and
sister, you also don't fall low by going after worldly
desires and mean
pleasures. God gives the fallen people time to repent.
He punishes them if
they fail to repent (Rev.2:21,22). You who are loved
by the Lord! Return to
the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your
iniquity; Take
words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take
away all iniquity;
receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices
of our lips. For in you
the fatherless finds mercy" (Hosea 14:1-4). You who are
fallen! Rise up
quickly.