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 Many
years ago a woman became interested in Bible study. Something
came up in her life — a chance conversation, the death of a
loved one, a rumble in “her church” — that made her take a
hard look at herself, and realize that she had little personal
knowledge of God’s will. So, she got in touch with a Christian
who had a reputation for knowing the Bible, and the studies
began.
Soon
she was led to consider the true meaning of salvation in Christ,
and non-denominational Christianity, and she agreed to being
baptized. I put it this way purposefully, for God must judge how
fully she understood and obeyed the gospel of Christ.
But
she had the opportunity. She worshipped with the saints for
awhile and seemed to grow spiritually. Then, “company” came,
her husband wanted to take a trip, a dozen other things
intervened, and her interest cooled. Perhaps the efforts to
revive this interest were inadequate — elders and other saints
came too late, with too little — but efforts were made, and
rejected. She began to resent such efforts as “butting into
her private life.” So, she forsook all
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assembling with the saints, dropped
personal contacts with them and the work of the Lord, and
returned to her former worldly affairs.
Now,
is this woman a Christian? (That means, is she a “follower of
Christ, Christ-like”? She gives the will of Christ no
precedence in her life. She is morally clean, a good neighbor, a
welfare worker, etc.; but this is her desire, and is not done because
it is Christ’s will, nor in order to be like Him. (Note Jas.
2:10-12)
She
ignores teachings of the Lord which she does not consider
necessary. We might charitably remember her past life and say,
“She was once a Christian!” but I regret having to say this
— for her sake.
“For
if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through
the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are
again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse
with them than the beginning.” (2 Pet. 2:20-f) My heart
aches for the past tense Christian!!
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