Remember when you were just saved? Yes, that same moment when the Holy Spirit stepped into your body and you just knew you were changed? There was a peace you couldn’t understand and an unspeakable joy deep inside of you. You felt light and pure. You hated sin, loved God and everyone around you; even your enemies could tell you were different. The life of Jesus Christ was effortlessly flowing through you. That’s the power and beauty of salvation!
Considering this, it’s heartbreaking that so many Christians were saved in their youth, but at present, they rarely (or no longer) manifest this awesome reality. They started out running well, but with time, they began to slow down, drift away, or live a double life. What God intended to be a continuously increasing reality has become a distant memory or tarnished pursuit.(Prov. 4:18—a must read!)
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Galatians 5:7
There were many moments in my life where I also experienced this drifting (which usually begins with entertaining one sinful thought, emotion, or conversation). Yielding to this, I sinned, and instead of repenting immediately, I covered it up in pride. I deceived myself into thinking God would wink at my sin, and I moved on as if nothing had happened. This, however, left an open door in my heart to be further tempted. Soon, one moment of sin became two, and the multiplication continued. After a while, I was struggling to stop doing what I knew was wrong.
During this deviation from God, another hindrance was added to my path: shame. Shame caused me to condemn myself. It made me doubt my salvation and whether I could ever be truly free again. I would even resist the counsel of those the Lord was using to reconcile me to Him because that required me to be vulnerable.
2 Samuel chapters 11–12 tell of King David (who was called, chosen, and anointed by God as a youth), yet he drifted from the will of God and suffered the consequences. The story begins with David making the wrong choice to stay home when he should have gone to battle. This decision led to his entanglement in sin—lust, adultery, craftiness, murder, etcetera. Thankfully, he eventually repented, and while some of the consequences remained in his family, ultimate redemption came through Jesus Christ.
THE DANGER OF LAGGING
See the danger of lagging behind? It automatically sets us outside the will of God and makes us even more prone to succumbing to the schemes of the enemy. Never forget that Satan’s only mission is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). He searches intensely for those who are slowing down and lusting after the things of the world instead of delightfully chasing after the things of God. At the opportune moment, he pounces upon them and drags them into the captivity of his will (1 Peter 5:8, 2 Tim 2:26). Always remember that when Jesus sets us free, his heart is for us to stay free, not for us to go back to sinning (Gal 5:1).
If you felt conviction while reading this article, good! That’s the Holy Spirit’s work in your heart. Humble yourself and respond to Him. Let Him wash you with the truth of His word again. If embracing one lie from the enemy led you down the path of sin, then surely embracing the truth of the Word of God just once can restore you to the path of righteousness, and keep you there if you keep choosing the same.
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men (and women), because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men (and women), because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:12-14
Wow! This is what God’s word says about us as youths. Believe it and you will see it!
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Passion and Purity is a school-based Christian organization and charity, geared towards developing youth and children. Contact freedomcomerain@gmail.com