No regrets
Here and there, I will hear stories of people who have backslid or walked away from the faith. I have always grappled with this concept, and try to think of all the reasons why a person would do so. I know that each person has his or her own story, reason, or excuse for doing so, but what would be big enough to justify giving up salvation? So I question if they truly knew God because I see the one thing that they all have in common--they do not know the truth. They could not have had a true and genuine relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ, and then have easily walked away. I hear stories of people who have been hurt by "Christians" which caused them to turn from the faith, but even that answer I cannot accept. People are not God, so why do we base God's character on imperfect and sinful people? Some blame God for the bad things that have happened to them, while others just don't like the idea of not being able to do what they want so they leave for their own selfish reasons. I am not here to judge, debate, or unexcuse their decision, I just question if these people truly knew Jesus, the real Jesus.
Did they know him, hear him, walk with him, and speak to him because Jesus is the truth, the life, and they way (John 14:6). The devil is a schemer and has somehow managed to conceal, lie, or distort God's truth, making a way for people to dismiss the work of Jesus Christ at the cross. I believe that those walking daily with Christ would honestly have a hard time completely abandoning their salvation because they know the truth. John 16:13 says But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. So because of someone or something, those turning their back on their faith and God have gotten their eyes and ears covered from the truth. Did they truly believe in Jesus?
Let's look at the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 4:1-20 that speaks about this:
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!”
Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop, some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
The verses above give us reasons as to why people leave the faith. Some had the truth stolen by Satan, others had no root. Some left because of trouble, and others are swayed by things of the world. Can you relate to any of these reasons?
As for me, it will be 7 years that I have walked with the Lord, and I don't have any regrets giving my life to Christ. To this day, God has not yet failed me. Yes, tragic things have happened to me, even after accepting Jesus and people have hurt me, but I will not blame God or use it as an excuse to turn away. I trust God and have faith that He will bring me through the hardships. There have been many times when following God was difficult, and I admit, often times I questioned if continuing on was worth it, but not because I didn't believe of God's existence, it was because of my own weakness. I know that God exists, that Jesus was crucified, and raised on the third day. There just is no turning back. Once you have a personal experience or encounter with God, it will be too hard to go back because if the son sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36).
You know, I didn't have the easiest life growing up; I've experienced many hard and horrible things. My parents fought daily, and there was much strife and chaos in my family, in fact, there still is. I left home at the age of 15 to live with my now husband to escape the troubles and family conflicts, but even that came with its own batch of problems. I've had two miscarriages, loved ones have died, and I was sexually assaulted on three separate occasions, and yet, I have no regrets accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Actually, I believe it is because of those events and the brokenness I had, that I chose to accept Jesus. I could no longer do it on my own. My life was falling apart and spinning out of control. I needed divine intervention and someone who could heal the hurt and pain. I needed to put my hope and trust in someone who would not fail me, someone who would truly love and accept me, and that was Jesus. Jesus saved me and became my rock, my hope, and salvation.
So I have no regrets letting God intervene. He brought healing and restoration. I don't regret asking God to save my marriage; He prevented a divorce. I don't regret turning to God when my daughter was being tormented by spirits; she has been set free. I don't regret having more joy, and leaning on God for strength, wisdom and guidance. I don't regret following God's leading on leaving people, jobs, and places that were not healthy for me. I don't regret quitting drinking, clubbing, drugs, and other bad habits to follow Christ. I don't regret letting God change and transform me from a bitter, hateful, and resenting person, to someone now who experiences joy, peace, and comfort. I don't regret allowing God to convict me of my sins, or asking God for forgiveness. I don't regret receiving the Holy Spirit, and knowing what I'm supposed to do. I don't regret praying for people and speaking life to people. I don't regret loving, being kind, forgiving, merciful, or giving grace. I am not perfect, and still sin just like anybody, but I will not reject my Salvation because it is by God's grace that I have overcome these things, and by His grace that I am where I am today. I cannot deny God's power in my life, and all the problems He's carried me through. God has done amazing, miraculous, impeccable, and unexplainable things for me, and I have no regrets.
If you've truly accepted Christ, I don't believe you would have any regrets either. I truly believe that if you got to know Jesus Christ...if you ask and let the Lord reveal Himself, His love, His power, His mercy, His forgiveness to you, then you too would not be able to walk away. You too would not regret giving Him your life.
Let us pray.
Lord God, the Great I AM,
I am saddened to hear when people backslide, or walk away from the faith. I am sad to hear that they accept you, then leave because of their own desires, hurts, people, or other things. Lord, I pray that the readers would truly seek You and get to You on a deeper level. Reveal yourself to them. I pray that the Word would fall on good soil, and that they would not be led away by selfish desires, worries, or other circumstances. We know that each day is a day closer to Your Coming and pray that You begin moving in our hearts and the hearts of others. I pray for true salvation and truth to come upon the readers, and that the enemy would not be able to steal Your Word. Quicken us and give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of what Salvation truly is and means. You are our King, Counselor, and the One True God. Do not let us turn away from You, Your truth, or Salvation. We thank You for everything and pray that Your Will be done. In Jesus' name, amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
