Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17:32. There are billions of sinners in the world. Why did Jesus mention Lot’s wife and ask us to remember her? What was special about her? “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:26. By this one look she lost her life in this world, and also her eternal life. She was given no time to repent of her sin, and to ask forgiveness. By special providence, God saved Lot and his family from destruction when the four cities were destroyed. The Lord came down from heaven in person to save the family of Lot; it was a great privilege and honour. They were already outside of the city on the way to the mountains when she turned back, because behind her were her home and all her belongings, her children and her friends.
Jesus gave the same warning, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
What is behind? The world, a life in sin, the old life, selfishness, and self-gratification. But, what is before us? Christ leading us, heaven, the New Jerusalem, holiness, and perfection.
Now, why would anyone look back to the life which he left behind, to the sin he denounced, to change life into death, joy into sorrow, happiness into misery, and Christ to Satan? Why? It is a mystery how a lost sinner, who has found salvation, and has left the life of sin, and has made a covenant with God, that he would he turn to look back into his old life, and into old habits and customs. He came to Christ and spent time in His company, and rejoiced in the truth.
Then what can happen? “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” John 6:66
After three-and-a-half years, Judas decided to leave the company of Christ and His disciples. It was not done under pressure, but from his free will. When someone starts looking back, what happens before that? Normally he is tired of looking at Jesus, his Leader, and turns his eyes away from Him. He does not think of Christ anymore, and does not speak of Him anymore, nor does he imitate Him any more—in other words, his love for Christ has died.
This change does not happen in a moment, there is a process called backsliding. “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.” Jeremiah 8:5. It was continual, perpetual backsliding.
What is the result of backsliding? “Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.” Jeremiah 5:6
Sister White wrote to the Adventist Church, “There is an astonishing backsliding with God’s people to whom has been entrusted sacred, holy truth.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 450. The protection of God has been withdrawn because of their backsliding.
How does backsliding happen? What causes backsliding?
When we climb up a mountainside, suddenly our feet slip and we start sliding backwards. Backsliding is not walking back; it is an involuntary action. When we drive a car in the winter, ice and snow can cause sliding. We, as Christians, do not want to go backwards. No, we have left the world, and we are on the way to heaven. Our purpose is to go all the way to perfection, to sanctification, and to Christlikeness. But as soon as we stop going higher, we start sliding back. We cannot stay in one place, but without realizing it our feet start slipping and we start sliding backwards. The victories we have gained, and the advancements we have accomplished now are lost. Satan makes our life so busy that we have no time for church meetings, Bible reading, prayer, nor missionary work. These cause backsliding.
Here are some things that cause backsliding: “Some are indulging lustful appetite which wars against the soul and is a constant hindrance to their spiritual advancement. They constantly bear an accusing conscience, and if straight truths are talked they are prepared to be offended. They are self-condemned and feel that subjects have been purposely selected to touch their case. They feel grieved and injured, and withdraw themselves from the assemblies of the saints. They forsake the assembling of themselves together, for then their consciences are not so disturbed. They soon lose their interest in the meetings and their love for the truth, and unless they entirely reform, will go back and take their position with the rebel host who stand under the black banner of Satan.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 548
Sister White writes further, “Some of these, through lack of watchfulness and prayer, had lost their faith and the evidence of their connection with God.” –Life Sketches, p. 220
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
“Many an honest, well-meaning person makes no advancement in the Christian life because he does not see the necessity of constantly learning more of Jesus.” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 89
If we neglect constant prayer and Bible reading, we will be overcome by Satan, and we start backsliding.
To the sisters in the church, Sister White wrote: “Do not, my sisters, trifle longer with your own souls and with God. I have been shown that the main cause of your backsliding is your love of dress. This leads to a neglect of grave responsibilities, and you find yourselves with scarcely a spark of the love of God in your hearts. Without delay, renounce the cause of your backsliding, because it is sin against your own soul and against God. Be not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Fashion is deteriorating the intellect and eating out the spirituality of our people. Obedience to fashion is pervading our Seventh-day Adventist churches and is doing more than any other power to separate our people from God.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 647
Another cause of backsliding is associations with worldly friends. “One of the greatest dangers that besets the people of God today, is that of association with the ungodly. With many, the love for the human eclispses the love for the divine. They take the first step in backsliding by venturing to disregard the Lord’s express command; and complete apostasy is too often the result. It has ever proved a dangerous thing for men to carry out their own will in opposition to the requirements of God. Yet it is a hard lesson for men to learn that God means what He says.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 2, p. 1000
One of the greatest dangers are worldly friends. “Those who choose for their friends and companions, persons who reject Christ and trample upon God’s law, eventually become of the same mind and spirit.” –Ibid., p. 1000
“Frivolous companions, who have no depth of principle, turn away the hearts of those who were once noble and true, to vanity, corrupting pleasure and downright vice.” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 165
Many other causes for backsliding can be mentioned. Sister White writes about the results of backsliding:
Blindness of mind.
Hardness of heart.
Inactivity in God’s cause.
Separation from God.
Restless heart, misery.
Here is, the remedy for backsliding: “By watchfulness and prayer, he may so guard his weakest points that they will become his strongest points. Through the grace of Christ, men may acquire moral stamina, strength of will, and stability of purpose. There is power in this grace to enable them to rise above the alluring, infatuating temptations of Satan, and to become loyal, devoted Christians.” –Gospel Workers, p. 126
We do not need to slide back, we can go steadily onward and upward, higher and higher every day. Do not look back like Lot’s wife. Look forward, to the goal. Look to Christ, He will lead us to our destination. We have an anchor which connects us with our Saviour in heaven.
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both pure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” Hebrews 6:19
What would happen if we lose hold of the anchor at end? Then the connection to our Saviour would be broken.
“I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God.” –Early Writings, p. 71
At that time it will be too late to prepare ourselves for heaven. Now is the time to get ready and purify ourselves from every sin and every neglected duty.
Remember Lot’s wife. Do not make the same mistake she did. If you have put your hand to the plough do not look back, heaven is before us, and eternal life, look to Jesus, and you will never fail. Amen.
Timo Martin