There is such complacency, passivity, and indifference among many in the Body of Christ when it comes to watchfulness over their souls. To some - Christianity has become more of a playground than a battleground.

May this message stir you or awaken you to the reality that you can very easily lose what you got from the Lord - if you are not careful!

 

Throughout the Scriptures - the New Testament in particular - we find phrases such as - "having swerved...turned aside"..."erred from the faith"..."erred concerning... faith"..."concerning the truth have erred"..."err from the truth" and "forsaken the right way, and are gone astray."

 

It is obvious that the Scriptures are talking about true-blue believers being seduced and wandering from the path of righteousness and life onto the path of sin and death.

 

How can that happen? What would be the cause of such apostasy?

 

Let's examine a few Scriptures and see what lessons we can glean from each.

 

1 Timothy 1:6 says - "From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling."

 

The Apostle Paul was referring to those who pretended to aim at the target...missed the mark...or erred because they totally negated three very crucial items in their Christian walk. These items were enumerated by the Apostle in the preceding verse and are as follows - "charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned"(1 Timothy 1:5).  Anytime that anyone leaves out these three emphases - the importance of having love that stems from a pure heart, a clean mind, or a strong faith - they will immediately begin to err or go astray. The condition of their heart will be reflected in their conversation - for they will "turn" or twist out or aside to empty, meaningless, useless, unprofitable, or vain talk - which includes idle chatter, gossip, speculations, criticism, and disputes that make very little sense and turn to no profit.

 

1 Timothy 6:10 says - "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith..."

 

"The love of money" or greedy love is the first step toward all kinds of sin. There is no kind of evil to which it will not lead a man when once it takes a hold of him.  It is the leading root of bitterness.

 

This determination to get rich - the folly of setting one's entire concentration on accumulating wealth as an end in itself - always proves to be spiritually disastrous. So many have fallen to this idolatry and, consequently, been seduced or blinded by greed and materialism to the extent whereby they actually wandered from the faith which they once held so dearly.   

 

1 Timothy 6:21 says - "Which some professing have erred concerning the faith..."

 

Here Paul was talking about those who elevated reason above faith. They were the ones who were attracted by false philosophies, ran after speculations, occupied their minds with high and lofty matters, and boasted in their learning and knowledge. In so doing, they deviated from the truth and moved right on to the path of error.

 

2 Timothy 2:18 says - "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."

 

Hymenaeus and Philetus - once believers in Christ - fell from the truth. How did it happen? They simply did not keep to the Scriptures. They rejected the Gospel that openly teaches the resurrection of the body as a great doctrine of Christianity. On the contrary, they advocated a moral resurrection - the resurrection of the soul at conversion - the spiritual passing from death of sin to eternal life - equating it with the New Birth. This teaching of theirs was one of the first forms of Gnosticism - an erroneous and gangrenous teaching that spread throughout the churches at that time. Its main intention was to negate the concept of a future reward and punishment system for the believer.

 

James 5:19 says - "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him."

 

This person was once in the truth. Believe it or not - At one time, he walked in the path of holiness.

 

However, somewhere along the way, he was led astray...departed from Christ and the Scriptures...forsook His ways...embraced error... abandoned all moral responsibility...and fell into sinful practices.  

 

2 Peter 2:15 says - "Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness."

 

His label - "the son of Bosor" - has an interesting background. The word "Bosor" was adapted to a kindred word - "Basar" - meaning flesh - thus making him - "the son of carnality." The Jews - in turn - termed it "Beor" - making "the way of Balaam" the way of covetousness.

 

Hence, anyone who follows after him in the path of covetousness, uncleanness, and idolatry is said to "forsake the right way" and "go astray." The Living Bible says it this way - "They have gone off the road and become lost like Balaam, the son of Beor, who fell in love with the money he could make by doing wrong."

 

Can a believer wander from the faith and go astray?

 

It is evident from the Scriptures that he can!

 

The question you must ask yourself today is - Where are you in your relationship with Jesus?

 

Are your throwing aside the importance of having a pure heart, good conscience, and strong faith?

Do you find yourself driven by a determination to get rich? Is it consuming your life at this time?

Have you exalted reason, learning, and knowledge above faith in Christ or His Holy Word? 

Are you keeping to the Scriptures or accepting every new notion or idea that comes along?

Have you abandoned all moral responsibility for your actions? Are you presently involved in any sinful practices?

Are you receiving wages for doing things in an unrighteous manner? In other words, are you getting wealthy using ungodly means such as lying, cheating, stealing, taking advantage of others, or doing others harm?  

 

If you are guilty of one of the above, you are wandering from the faith and going astray.

 

Hell is a place prepared for those who rebel against God.

It is a place prepared for all those who have turned from the right path onto the wrong - and die in that condition. 

 

Don't go to Hell for anyone or anything.

Turn around and get your life back on course with Jesus.

 

Who said that you couldn't wander from the faith?

God surely didn't!