Hard Look Into the Still Waters

I apologize if this note lacks my normal eloquence and structure.

As I watch my fellow brothers and sisters in Chris fall to the things of this world and watch their walk with God and their spirits decay, I have literally weeped and I have felt such an anger and irritation in my heart. The Body of God today seems so blind to the control the enemy has over them when they fall into the ways of the world. 

Why is no one teaching on this in church?

Your pastors may not teach you on the enemy and spiritual warfare. Your pastor may not teach you about avoiding the ways of the world and walking on the narrow road. Your pastor may not come alongside you and ask you how your walk is with God. But it IS in the Bible. 

Please, learn to guard yourself against backsliding and falling into the ways of the world. We are called to be different and "outside of the world" if you will (John 15:16).

We are to set our minds and eyes on things above, things that are of God. We are to yearn for God, for Heaven, for the spiritual things which will satisfy, unlike things of this world that satisfy temporairly and, usually, with consequence (Colossians 3:1-3). 

When we allow ourselves to fall into the things of the world, we are starving our spirits that yearn for God and the Spirit. When we know Jesus and are devoted to Him then fall into the world and completely turn from our faith, we are worse off than we were before we knew Him. We beome worse off than before because we knew freedom yet in the end we chose to be in bondage again (2 Corinthians 11:3; 2 Peter 2:20-22).

If no one else has told you then I shall.

Guard yourself from the ways of this world. Make a covenant with your eyes (Job 31:1), guard your mouth (James 1:26; Ephesians 4:29). Live your life in a pure lifestyle so you can come before God with no guilt (Psalm 26:6). 

If you do not feel anger or wish to walk away from anything that is not building up your life or is pleasing to God (cussing, immoral TV or music, your own actions) I beg of you to check your heart and where you are with God.

If you know this is you, God wants you to turn back to Him and it is repeated multiple times (James 4:8). God is ever so clear in scripture from the beginning to the end of the Holy Book where you stand when you turn away from Him knowingly (Hebrew 10:26-29; Luke 9:62; James 4:17).

God asks you in Galatians 5:7 who made you turn from the truth? Are you able to look and see who is is? If you are able to, are you willing to choose God and walk away from those who make you stray?

Galatians 6:1-2 commands us to hold one another accountable. So I write this not to be harsh on any reader or to cause anyone to feel shame. We all come up short from what we know we can be in our walk. Proverbs 27:17 declares that we sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron. Let us all come to one another, gently, pointing out sin or backsliding. Let us pray together. And let us, as a body, be not of this world and be followers of Christ.