The message of restoration

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. (James 5:19-20)

If you have heard the term "backslider", then you are likely familiar with the idea of once a follower of Christ, now caught up in the same sin or worse than they were involved in before coming to Christ. Most of the time we think of a backslider as one totally away from Christ, but did you know that the term also describes those who continue to follow Christ, but with less fervor and a lack of obedience that once may have been evident in their lives? Look again at the passage today and you will observe "if someone among you WANDERS AWAY from the truth". Wandering isn't always intentional - it is more or less because one has taken their eye off the target!

It is possible to never turn your back entirely on Christ and still be a backslider. When one's heart becomes consumed with the things of this world, causing one's attentiveness toward the things Christ asks and the responsiveness to his requests to be 'blunted' or 'delayed' altogether, he or she is actually 'backsliding'. Relationship with Jesus requires a fervor - a dedication and commitment to not just 'be Christian' when the mood hits, but to 'live Christ values' even when the mood might tempt us to do otherwise. 

The prophet Jeremiah was called to bring a message of repentance to the people of Judah. Their persistent sin was an afront to God and he was bringing judgment on them. The prophets were giving false prophesies, the priests were following their own devices, and the people were going along with all of it. The words that tell it all: "Our wickedness has caught up with us, Lord, but help us for the sake of your own reputation. We have turned away from you and sinned against you again and again." (Jeremiah 14:7) Turned away - time and time again - finding the sin they pursued more enticing than the pull to remain faithful to their faithful God.

Sin has a way of enticing us, but does it have to pull us in? Absolutely not. The more we entertain it, though, the easier it is to be 'pulled in'. We often pursue what 'tickles our fancies' and that is where we get into the place of 'spiritual drift'. It is easy to wander when we have no clear vision of where it is we are supposed to be heading, isn't it? God's plan is that we never wander, but if we do, our greatest hope is that someone will come alongside to help bring us back on course once again. Will you be the one to bring someone the message of restoration when they need it most? Just askin...