( © Rev. William H. Anderson, August 15, 2002 )

I was asked a question about God and Back-Sliders. A preacher had told his congregation that when a person Back-Slides that God turns His back on them.
 If that were true then God would turn his back on me everyday. Like Paul, I must die daily to live for Christ. The term Back-Slider is ambiguous. It insinuates that a person slides back into the hole they had just climbed out of. It is true that a Christian has been lifted out of their iniquities and forgiven by God. But, they don’t always slide back into the same sin they had just been forgiven of. I know this personally.

 I didn’t back-slide into running the bars and cursing everyone and everything. When I had received Salvation I was only 11 years old and didn’t know what those things were. When I was 21 I drifted away from and then ran from God as hard as I could. That is not back sliding. That is taking the wrong path.
 Jeremiah 9:5 - And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

 Each time the Israelites thought God had forsaken, turned his back on, them they were mistaken. They had turned their backs on Him and had forsaken His covenants. Even when God turned the Israelites over to their enemies for punishment He watched over them waiting and watching for them to make a plea to Him for deliverance. Then God would find the one person that could free them from their bonds and give them the power and gifts they needed to free His people.

 Judges 3: 7 - 11
7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
8 Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.
9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
11 And the land had rest forty years. (KJV)

 While we are turned away from God we may get the feeling that He has turned His back on us. Our cries and prayers go unheard and unanswered. We can no longer find that Peace we had while we walked with God. Just going to church doesn’t fix our problem. If we go at all. We begin searching for something to fill the emptiness we feel inside, knowing that we need to ask God’s forgiveness to fill that emptiness. Instead we look to fix our lives on our own. We don’t need any help from anyone. Just like a five year old who thinks they can tie the own shoe laces or dress themselves. They don’t need any help!

 But we as parents, older siblings and others step back and wait until the five year old finally admits they need our help. That is what My God does. I turned away from him. Yet, He stepped back and waited until I came to Him asking for forgiveness.

 John 7:37 - In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  (KJV)

Hebrews 7:25 - Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  (KJV)

 I want you to try something. The next time you are talking to someone start turning away from them while you are talking. After you have turned your back on them do they still hear and understand what you are saying? Now, turn back around face them. If they are still there, isn’t the conversation easier to maintain? You can even do the same thing using your telephone. While you’re talking start turning the receiver away from your mouth.

 That’s what happens to us, Christians who have started down the wrong path. While we are facing the wrong direction and God can’t communicate with us. And like any good parent, sibling or friend He is still standing there waiting for us to turn back to Him to continue our communion with Him.

 Revelation 2:5 - Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  (KJV)

The only thing I could find that said God had forsaken anyone was at the time of Jesus’ death.

 Matthew 27:46 - And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (KJV)

 And the whole world suffered for a short time.

 Matthew 27: 51 - 54
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (KJV)

Our world would be a perpetual world of darkness and earthquakes if God did turn his back on those who take the wrong path.

It is Not God turning His back on us, but We who turn our backs on God. But, I KNOW that when I turned back to God I found He had been waiting and watching for me the whole time I was going the wrong way. He had made me a promise.

Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (KJV)

 No! God will never turn His back on me, you, a “Back-Slider”, a (quote/unquote) Good Christian or even a Sinner. He is always waiting and watching to hear our plea for forgiveness and salvation.

Back To Top