The Slippery Slope

I can give so many examples of how easy it is for Christians to backslide. It can happen by giving the enemy a foothold through opening yourself up to entertaining sinful thoughts, impure desires of lust, even though the action has not been committed is still sin. 

Matthew 5:28 (KJV) But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

"Small" sins... white lies... gluttony...maybe just a little gossip... sin is sin in God's eyes and there's no room for compromise in the Body of Christ. 

James 2:10 (NKJV) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

Once the enemy is allowed to be our spiritual gauge and his temptations are yielded to... the consequences, without true repentance become severe.

Isaiah 59:2 (KJV) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Yes! There's a lot of tactics the enemy uses to draw us away from God, that soon lead to anxiety and depression. When we are not walking close to Him, the space and quiet can be deafening! When distance is created the screams of the enemy will drown out the still small voice of the Lord. His voice can be heard as we actively and purposely draw close to Him through time in His Word and presence... living a life of holiness and purity... desiring to fulfill His will over our desires. 

But here's one of the most common ways Christians backside... It's a slow death that's hardly noticed. Just as we get too busy to care for our bodies by eating whatever we desire and not being physically active, it begins to decline by default. It's not a purposeful desire to harm ourselves but simple neglect takes us further and further from our fitness goals. You never stay the same, if you're not putting in the effort, your strength and health will continue to decrease. 

It's the same spiritually, if you're not actively seeking to grow in your faith, knowledge of God and your relationship with Him, then you're on that slope that will lead you further away from Him and His will for your life. That's a miserable place to be! Turn the momentum around and begin to move forward instead of sliding backwards on that slippery slope!

James 10:38-39 (KJV) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Ephesians 2:13 (NKJV) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Jeremiah 3:22 (NKJV) “Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.”“Indeed we do come to You, For You are the Lord our God.