Backsliding
The term “backslidden” is often
thrown around flippantly to describe a child of God who’s drifted from
the straight and narrow. But backsliding is NO joking matter! While the
term is never used in the NT, the word “backsliding” is used a dozen
times in the OT to describe Israel in its relationship to God. The
Hebrew word means “a defection” or “a turning away.” It literally
signifies a nation or individual turning its back toward God, heading
in another direction. It makes no difference where backsliding
takes a man. The fact it takes him away from God as he shows God his
BACK always ends in disaster!
One of the most profound OT texts is
Exodus 33:18-23. Moses was preparing to lead Israel away from Mount
Sinai to the Promised Land. He did NOT want to embark on the journey
without the firm assurance God’s presence would be with him every step
of the way. In a rather bold request, he asked: “I beseech thee, shew
me thy glory.” The Lord met him half way, for a full disclosure of that
glory would have been fatal to Moses. So the Lord
said:
“And it shall come to pass, while my
glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will
cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine
hand, and thou shalt see MY BACK PARTS: but my face shall not be seen”
(33:22-23).
Backsliding is not a difficult
concept to grasp. Instead of a desire to meet God face-to-face in
worship with a view to fellowship and obedience, the backslider
literally shows God his BACK in contempt as he walks away and pursues
self-interests.
When God shows a man his BACK PARTS,
he does so to PRESERVE his life. But when a man shows God his BACK
PARTS, he does so as the PRELUDE for disaster!
Right now our government is showing
God its BACK PARTS in a display of contempt for the Almighty. You need
look no farther than House passage of the so-called “Equality Act” that seeks to obliterate God’s creative design. This is
but a continuation in a series of God-defying legislation!
To say America is ‘backslidden’ is a
gross understatement. It's turned its back on the God of its founding
to pursue godless secularism. The question in my mind: “Will God in his
mercy seek to turn us around, or simply allow us to walk over the cliff
of national disaster with our BACKS to him?”
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