Last time we left off with the question of “What happens to those who have entered into a personal relationship with God but later chooses to give up that relationship?”
Does Hashem casually let one of His own just walk away without consequences?
Or does the backsliding believer have the option to do a time-out away from the Lord and go hog wild for a period of time doing whatever he or she wants?
Kind of like a cheat day for obese people who are on a strict diet.
Well, we’re already given the answer in Joshua 24:20.
“If you abandon ADONAI and serve foreign gods,
he will turn, doing you harm and destroying you
after he has done you good.”
Pretty clear if you ask me.
However, I know the gentile church preaches a different doctrine which says the born-again believer never has to worry about God disciplining them for their sin because “Jesus has paid the price”.
You know, that Christian notion is actually not 100% incorrect.
I guess it all depends on whether you hold to an Armenian or Calvinistic view of salvation.
But here’s the thing.
Free will and choice did not end for God’s chosen people after they were saved from Egypt.
Nor did it end decades later after they experienced God’s miracles first hand while dwelling in the Wilderness.
And if that’s the case, I don’t see how it can be any different in our day.
Also the New Testament warns the new believer in Messiah to be on guard and be careful not to fall away.
I myself have had times when I strayed from the Lord and I tell you it’s a miserable existence.
You wake up the next morning enveloped in this cloud of darkness.
However, the Lord never completely let me go.
He used circumstances in my life to keep me in His good graces.
And that’s my point.
Contrary to the pagan deities of the nations, the God of the Bible will not let you go without a fight.
And this fight could result in a world of pain and frustration for you when you stray and try to live life in your own way minus the Lord.
If you ever wondered why the unbeliever is able to lead a successful and prosperous life while still living in sin, well that’s your answer.
He or she has NOT entered into a covenant relationship with the Lord and thus is OUTSIDE of God’s disciplining hand.
But that’s not the case with you if you’re a believer.
The Lord says He will chase you down and discipline you like a son should you ever attempt to shift loyalties from Him to another god.
Why?
Because you’re that valuable to Him.
Yeshua’s parable of the one lost sheep speaks perfectly to this.
So while it’s true that God will never allow another human being (including your parents) or any other spiritual entity to take you away from Him, you have the power to walk away if you want to (sorry all you Calvinists out there).
The parable of the seeds in Luke 8 makes this clear.
So yes, it’s true.
God has given you the freedom to walk away and choose the path of destruction if you so desire AFTER you’ve made a decision to follow Messiah.
You may wonder, why in the world would any sane person choose to do such a crazy thing?
Especially after witnessing the miracles of God.
Well, here’s what you’ve got to understand.
When Joshua posed the question “To whom will you serve?” to the Israelites, he wasn’t being rhetorical.
Why can I say that with certainty?
Because right at that very instant, thousands of Israelites were worshipping Canaanite idols which they had kept hidden in their homes.
That’s right.
I’m talking about the whole pantheon of Mystery Babylon gods and goddesses.
And here’s what’s even more shocking.
In just a few short years, the idolatry of the Israelites would go from secretly worshipping idols in their homes to the open and public worship of EL, ASHERAH, BA’AL and ASTARTE.
When we get into the Book of Judges, we’ll see this rebellion peak to outrageous levels.
Leave a Reply