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 will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
(James 5:19-20)
Is it possible to be counted among those who know the truth, then leave what you knew, and be brought back again? James was speaking to his spiritual family, he called them his brothers and sisters, yet he indicated that there will be those who will wander away. Look at the progression of the condition of the person to whom he is referring. Starting out he refers to him or her as his own brother or sister in the Lord who then decides to turn away. The very next line he refers to the same person as a sinner as he instructs the others, who remained in the truth, that it is good if this person can be brought back to what he or she once knew and like the farmer waiting for rain (verse seven) and the bountiful harvest that follows so will the sinner receive forgiveness of many sins but you must be patient and believe that God will send the rain that soften the hardened soil of the heart.
I notice a change in me if I go several mornings without meeting God in the morning. Sure my excuses seem justified and I can pray in the car but I’m tired because I got to bed late, because of such and such. Ok, so I need to keep my schedule for going to bed on time in order to wake up on time but who says my time with God must be sacrificed because my schedule is off? When this happens I start seeing my attitude change, the way I respond to people changes, and my motives become more self-centered. I then pray and ask God what is going on and it is then He reminds me I haven’t been praying or seeking Him each morning. It doesn’t take very long for you to realize how important it is to live a disciplined life, regardless of what you “feel” like doing but what about those who ignore the warning signs? As you could imagine their attitudes and motives become more and more like that of the world’s until one day God’s ways are strange and no longer known by them, so much so that they abandon their faith that once led them to the truth. Yes, backsliding is real and can and will happen. Our decision to love Christ Jesus doesn’t happen once and then we forget it but if we love Him we will seek Him daily, understanding we are going through a transformation, leaving what we once knew to the truth that has been revealed to us by His Holy Spirit. If we stop progressing we don’t stand still but the current of this world sweeps us away. Now I am glad the Holy Spirit that led us to the cross of Christ Jesus also remains with us to guide and protect our hearts, for knowing the truth is not enough, we need a Savior, a hero to rescue us from the rapids and the falls that would eventually consume us. How does God do this? By having relationship with us, if we don’t spend time with Him then our ability to follow the truth is limited by our own means. I’ve tried that and know it does not work. So is a disciplined life really that hard to live? Jesus said in Matthew 11:30 “For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (NLT) and Paul told the Thessalonians “…never get tired of doing good.” 2Th 3:13 (NLT) and I know in my own life obedience is better that sacrifice
