I'M A PROFESSIONAL BACKSLIDER

“I’m a professional backslider,” Lynn told Nancy. Even as she joked about her spurtish relationship with Jesus, she seemed interested in the Bible she was leafing through.

Nancy offered a reconnect-with-God solution. She handed her a twice folded sheet of paper imprinted with: “YOU ARE INVITED.”  Lynn accepted it without hesitation, indicating she would seriously consider it.

The invitation touted “The Challenge.”  Described as: “Once a week we get together to encourage each other along life’s journey. Please join us in experiencing God! Challenge meetings are designed to teach you the time tested wisdom of the Bible. The purpose is to help participants lead meaningful, productive lives.”

Held at a funky, non-religious gathering place called Harmony Garden, is this a backslider’s answer to prayer?

The Bible says: “The person who backslides in his heart will be fully repaid for his ways.”

Happens ever time from what I’ve seen. Have you ever seen a person close to God improve their life after backsliding?

The Bible graphically says: “Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command.
They prove the point of the proverbs, ‘A dog goes back to its own vomit,’ and, ‘A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud.’”

Lynn never made it to the meeting. Someone commented: “I guess she backslid so far she couldn’t make it.”

Can a person actually backslide past Jesus’ reach? Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come
in . . .”

Here’s the picture. Jesus is gently tapping on the door of Lynn’s heart. He won’t force His way in. Yet he patiently waits, anxious to renew the relationship they once had.