Backslide, deteriorate, revert and sink are words associated with relapse. This condition is a byproduct of falling back into old habits. Whether someone becomes lazy, out of sync or unfocused, it doesn’t take much for human beings to drift back into patterns of their childhood. Perhaps, this explains why addiction is so hard to beat as weakened souls are often sucked back by demons of your past.
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8.
The average person doesn’t wake up eager to sin, longing to worship the devil. Rather, the practice of sinning is conceived within minds. Subtle thoughts set the process of temptation into motion. Whenever anyone strays slightly from God’s commands, compromise gives birth to a lowering of personal standards. For those heading off in this direction, relapse is inevitable. Yet, many are surprised by how far and quickly this downward spiral occurs.
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,” Luke 9:62.
The context of the passage above refers to someone who wanted to be one of Jesus’ disciples. The individual who is turned down by Jesus simply wanted to say goodbye to his family. Yet, the point Jesus was trying to make is that people who have a tendency to relapse won’t set a godly example for others to follow. In the last month, conviction has pierced my heart as my own life has been a poor model, not fit for God’s kingdom. I must confess that I have relapsed back to my shy days of an unconfident stutterer. Instead of keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, I am defeated, void of any spiritual victory. Thus, I am in desperate need to heed the call of Silverline’s song, Never Look Back so I can begin to turn my life around.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 