Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The LORD will be a light to me.
(Micah 7:8)
Be a Confident Backslider!
What do I mean? Let me explain. Backsliding is a term that describes a time of sin, of failure and of going backward in a Christian’s life.
Backsliding is bad…it is hard.
Please don’t misunderstand or misapply today’s thought. Backsliding is never recommended! The Bible is clear – backsliding is hard, it is painful to us and often those around us. (Prov 13:15). It is described in the verse above as “darkness” which is foreboding, lonely, fearful and simply not fun!
Backsliding is real….Christian – you will fall.
In many ways, I wish it was not true. I wish I could tell you a lie, that you are in a place that failure is not an option. But to tell you such a thing would be dishonest. Our verse today is much more truthful, for it says “when I fall”. It does not say “if”….but “when”. Christians fall and fail in their walks at times…that is the truth.
Backsliding can be confident. A Christian can be confident that when they fall, they will arise.
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
The simple and yet vital Biblical truth is that a real Christian always gets up from a fall. A real Christian always returns from a failure. Today, I call you to such a confidence in the hopes that it would almost be a boast. Notice this verse, it is a confident assertion to their enemy that they will rise. Christian, this can honestly be your boast against the world and even against satan himself. Your taunt can honestly be…don’t rejoice over my falls, I will fall, but I will get up. Christians fall, but Christians always get up, always!
Backsliding confidence is not casual about sin.
Consider the verse that follows our verse today:
I will bear the indignation of the LORD,
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case
And executes justice for me.
He will bring me forth to the light;
I will see His righteousness.
(Micah 7:9)
Notice, that this boast, though confident in arising from a fall, takes sin seriously. God in His goodness and holiness will discipline us for our sin against Him…and He does. Yet, we can and should be confident of His restoration.
Backsliding confidence is solidly in God, not self.
This is the most important point. Christian, we can be confident and we should be – but not in ourselves, but in the incredible faithfulness of God.
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The LORD will be a light to me.
The reason, and the only reason, that we can be confident is because of who God is, and that He never quits. Paul would record this same confidence this way:
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
(Philippians 1:6)
Christian, where are you in this today?
Have you fallen? Are you in a place you should not be? Then get up! Arise! This is exactly what God is seeking to do and will do in you. His faithfulness is pulling you back. Accept whatever discipline He has for you and get back up!
Are you overwhelmed with sorrow? One of satan’s largest lies to a Christian when they have fallen, is that God is done with them, that they are a failure and that they should just give up. It is a lie. God never gives up…never. Christian, if you have fallen, don’t be arrogant but humbly accept God’s discipline….yet still have in your heart a confidence that God is going to pick you up…because He is!
Are you unnecessarily afraid of failing? Are you afraid that when you fail that God is going to return you like some broken toy that disappointed its owner? Know this…God does not do that! Again, our confidence is never one that makes us to play light with sin…but it is a confidence that when we fall, we will arise – because of God!
Today, wherever you are Christian, I call you to a confidence in God’s faithfulness to continue what He started in you…and knowing that He never gives up!
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
(Philippians 1:6)
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The LORD will be a light to me.
(Micah 7:8)
Jim
|
