Why is it that many people find Christ at some point in their life and then turn their backs on Him? How could it be that God’s “peace that passes understanding” could come into someone’s life and they simply walk away? Questions that we all face at some point or another, if we deal with people. I don’t fully understand this phenomenon, but it is a reality nonetheless.
I believe that experience will demonstrate that most backsliders do not simply wake up one day and decide to abandon their faith. Rather, it comes over a period of time as the enemy gets a larger and larger foothold on the person. Here is a progression that most backsliders follow in the path away from God:
Step 1. Pride and / or selfishness moves in. The book of Proverbs tells us, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall…” Pride to move in and takes root in our hearts. But, that usually starts slowly and subtly, conquering small parts of our heart “one chamber at a time.” Perhaps a person earns a new degree in school, or gets a super promotion at work and allows those blessings to “go to their head.” Perhaps, it is just pride that builds to destruction starting from some work or achievement at home. Whatever causes it, it is that pride that eventually causes a person to feel like a “self made” person. The importance of God in prominence in their lives then lessens as this new self-made confidence begins to grow and flourish. Sometimes, this is actually “fueled” by selfishness as well. Some people simply become like astronauts in reverse—they think the world revolves around them. That kind of selfishness causes them to put other people behind them, to put people down and to try to move themselves up the ladder of importance….no matter who they have to “step on” to accomplish it. Often, people adopt the attitude of, “this is business…” as they deal with others outside of the church. They think that gives them special permission to negate God’s Word as they deal dishonestly or deceitfully; all the while completely ignoring God and His Word as they tromp on people in the name of “it’s just business.” Any excuse the enemy can get us to use to allow us to violate God’s Word is a trick of the devil that only causes a person to fall.
Step 2. A person gets neglects the reading of God’s Word and praying. That neglect leads to a separation between God and themselves. After all, God’s Word is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…” So, if we neglect to read His Word, we lose His light and find ourselves falling into darkness.
Step 3. We become afraid. Have you ever awakened from a bad dream thinking you are falling? There is no more helpless feeling than to be falling with nothing to stop you, and the ground looming ahead. So, when that fear sets in, people often get desperate and try things that only serve to make their bad situation worse. Fear is not from God. It is the enemy who intimidates and tries to make us afraid. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” That is from 2 Timothy 1:7. The fear that most people experience here is a fear of what others will think if they “come clean” and admit they’ve failed God. They are afraid that their good reputations will be tarnished, and that they won’t be able to face their friends again. That kind of fear is crippling, and is often as strong a sensation as falling without any way to stop.
Step 4. The world and the things in it become attractive. Satan’s lure into sin now becomes more and more appealing. After all, the person that once walked closely with God has now become self-made, has neglected God’s Word and is now afraid of confessing his sin to God because others will chide him or reject him. We all know the Bible says that “sin is pleasure for a season…” So, why not “have a little fun?”
Step 5. The last step prior to a person “jumping out of the boat” is Denial. Just as a person with a major physical illness often finds themselves in complete denial that the symptoms they feel could be anything serious until it is too late….so goes the person that is in denial that they are falling away from Christ—they are backsliding. The only way to defeat denial is to face it head on. Confront it. Drag it out of the darkness and into the light. Only then can it be seen for what it really is.
So, the exhortation for today is that we stay close to God. Read His Word and Pray….go to church, be active in the work of the Kingdom. Don’t live in a “part-time” arrangement with God that ends when the preacher says, “amen” on Sunday! Allow Christ to live in your heart. Not just let Him “look in the window.” When Christ is on the throne of your life, your future “weather forecast” will read, “Jesus will reign forever.” You will have “Showers of Blessings” in your life.
May the God of Heaven give you peace and joy in your life today!
In Our Master’s Joyful Service,
Ed Smith
Joy Christian Radio

Here is an Associated Press article about Iran producing Nukes. I will comment on it afterward.

“IAEA: Teheran may be working on nukes
ASSOCIATED PRESS
18/02/2010 20:38

UN nuclear agency expresses concern over Iran’s intentions for first time.

VIENNA — The UN nuclear agency on Thursday expressed concern for the first time that Iran may currently be working on ways to turn enriched uranium into a nuclear warhead, instead of having stopped several years ago.

Its report appears to contradict an assessment by Washington that Teheran suspended such activities in 2003. It appears to coincide with the concerns of several US allies that Iran may never have suspended enrichment.

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Many thanks, and happy blogging!
Ed Smith
Joy Christian Radio