Repent and turn back from your sin. It’s that simple yet very difficult to apply.
Falling from grace, is a state I wouldn’t ever want a single Christian to find themselves. For the people who end up there suffer much more than even those who are not saved at all. It’s much better for you not to be on the side of God at all, in the dark, than try being on both sides at the same time—claiming to be a Christian yet sinning in the background.
This is the most dangerous place to be. For God will be punishing you for being a hypocrite(confessing Him with your mouth but your heart is far from Him) while the devil will also be attacking you to steal everything God gave you. You’re being attacked from both sides. You would rather be a slave to one than want to play both.
What does being lukewarm actually look like to God?
Just imagine it was your partner, and he or she was undecided whether to stay with you or not. Seeing another person simultaneously whilst you are together. Sort of cheating on you, and the other person.
What would you do to them, if you had the capacity to punish?
And so it is; with a lukewarm Christian. But this is not why we are here.
Falling from grace, Coming to back to grace
If you look at Saul the first king of Israel, there is one thing about him that makes him perfect for this picture— he fell from grace. As it is 1 Samuel 15:24-26 NKJV
Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”
26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
Saul allowed the people and glory of being king to get to him and so ended up giving into the pressure. At that point, he lost it. All of it. And was now acting on his own.
He failed to wait for God and orchestrated his own downfall. He let the fame and good things of the world entice him, as if forgetting that he was nothing before God even called him. And so are many of us, struggling to keep up with the world and trends yet God’s will isn’t into these things we desire and by continual disobedience, the Spirit leaves us.
The other Saul, Paul. There is no direct relationship between this one and the former however there is something unique, the irony.
Saul, as in Paul, was in direct conflict with the preachers of Jesus Christ, the apostles. He saw to it that they were not successful in their endeavours. He personally hunted them and supervised the killing of some(like Stephen)
He believed their preaching was in direct opposition with the law, which he was raised in. And defiling it, was like asking for a death wish before his eyes.
He tormented many followers then, until his day reached, and one act (of his eyes being blind for three days constantly) in Acts 9:9 turned his life around forever.
He turned away from chasing the Christians and became a part of them. And suffered for the same cause that he had previously been tormenting others for.
Benefits of repenting
Paul left Saul behind on that encounter and was now a new creation in Christ. He was born again. And so can you, right now.
Jesus is loving, welcomes all of us as we are, and forgiving.
In Ezekiel 18:21 God shows us how much love and grace has been made available for those who repent:
“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die
This sort of judgement surpasses logic but if you look closely, it’s elaborating on one issue, God’s love for us to turn away from evil.
And so was Paul. He knew how much he had offended the body of Christ but also remembered God’s love for His people. God loves you. And that’s the truth.
He is willing to forgive you, and forget all your misdoings, whether you lied to Him, cheated on your partner or killed a person. God is loving and accepts everyone.
“He says come as you are…
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Mathew 11:28)
All He needs is your heart. Come to Him as you are, He is waiting at the door—let Him in.
Just as the prodigal son strayed from his father and wasted all his inheritance. When all life had failed out in the world. He considered in his heart that at least, in his father’s house, even though he had taken all his inheritance and used it up; he could at least get some food.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:17-20)
Jesus never came here for those who consider themselves righteous; He is here for you, and me.
Those who know deep down, I am a sinner and need Him to help me walk out of this sin. You don’t have to have the courage of your own to overcome that sin. Jesus will give you that courage.
Even when all seems to be falling apart, our only hope is Him, and that’s where we should go. Whether tired, humiliated, broke, ugly or in prison. Jesus is the way, the future and the light in the middle of this darkness.
Come as you are. He will transform you, not rebuke you. As it is His promise for you in Isaiah 42:3
‘A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.’
That’s how much he loves you. You don’t have to get yourself straight or first eliminate something, no.
If you know deep down you aren’t right with God, just set your heart towards Him and call His name.
He hears you. You can do it right now.
Just say, ”Lord Jesus, here I am.”
If you feel it in your heart, do it.
