There is nothing more challenging than the Christian walk. It’s not a run, a crawl or even a soar, as the term “walk” denotes a slow, forward progression. Yet there are times when that walk either takes an extremely circuitous route, or even goes in the opposite direction. That is when we are no longer standing on solid ground, the Foundation of our salvation. In the Bible, it is called back-sliding, and it cannot happen to unbelievers, as there is no blessing of fellowship to slide away from. Instead, this describes a person who knows God, yet chooses his old, sinful habits.
Picture a man on ice-skates in a powerful windstorm. Striving to move ahead, when the strongest gusts hit him in the face, he proceeds with “one step forward, two steps back.” When he loses his footing and falls onto his backside, that wind can cause him to slide backward, from whence he came.
As Christians, we have the hope of our walks with the Lord being continuous and straight, yet there are times when we become too self-confident, beginning to operate under our own power and direction, rather than being led by Jesus. Sin can cause us to stumble in a way that may seem surprising in its ostentatious manner. When we stumble, we will be humble! Throughout the Bible, we see godly men failing. Yet, the good news is that while all men fail, God never fails!
Your own wickedness will correct you,
And your backslidings will rebuke you.
Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing
That you have forsaken the LORD your God,
And the fear of Me is not in you,”
Says the Lord GOD of hosts.
Jeremiah 2:19
Our wisdom begins with that fear of the Lord, but there are times when ignorance takes hold of our lives. When God destroyed the world by flood, Noah was one of only eight spared. Yet soon after, he lay uncovered, drunk in his tent (Genesis 9:20). King David was a man after God’s own heart, yet his lust of Bathsheba led him to be responsible for the murder of her husband to disguise the adultery. Perhaps the best example for us all involves Peter, who soon after bragging to Jesus of his unwavering, undying love, denied his Lord three times.
Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Luke 22:34
Notice that Peter, the only disciple brave enough to walk on water with Jesus, who sliced off the ear of Malchus in the Garden of Gethsemane in defense of Jesus, failed in his strength rather than in his weakness. Satan attacked Peter’s courage immediately after the Lord’s arrest, but the outcome was no surprise to Jesus. When we think that we are strong enough to handle Satan’s attacks alone, we are destined for failure. In the same manner, we tend to hand our weaknesses to the Lord, knowing without Him we will fail. Yes, even Peter failed, but Jesus restored Peter soon after His resurrection. Is there any sin worse than denying the Lord? Yet this was the same Peter who wrote part of the New Testament, led many people to Christ, and was crucified upside down as a martyr for the Lord.
When a young boy disobeys his parents, that action might affect his fellowship, but not his son-ship. We cannot lose our relationship with the Lord! That is not based on our strengths, but on His! Certainly, there are times when all of us as Christians adversely affect our fellowship with the Lord, but through His restoration, we will regain that fellowship! Has sin taken away the blessing of your fellowship with the Lord? Ask for His forgiveness! God never desires to be far from us, yet at those times when we walk away, He cries out, “Where are you? I miss fellowshipping with you!”
Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
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