10/09/2019
How many times have we almost slipped, or actually fallen in our faith? We are walking along thinking everything is going splendidly, and then whoops... our spiritual feet fly out from under us. It is so unexpected, so sudden, and often occurs without any forethought of impending danger; yet there we are, sitting on our backsides wondering how we got there, and suffering in our need for forgiveness.
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,”
Jude 1:24 ESV
This scriptural doxology at the end of Jude refers to God as being able to keep us from stumbling, and how reassuring that is! yesterday I was volunteering with the Habitat for Humanity project, and it had rained the day before which made the building site a muddy mess. All day long my teammates and I had been walking carefully so that we wouldn’t slip in the mud. Then, at the end of the day, we were carrying more than 20 large roof trusses to the house, and carefully lifting them up to the where our waiting team members on the roof would set them in place. To get from the pile of trusses in the backyard to the side of the house where we would lift them up we had to traverse several areas of ankle deep mud and water which was very slippery. Coupled with the heavy trusses, this was a very tricky operation. So, as we moved each large triangle shaped truss, one after another of us would lose our footing, and nearly fall, until finally, one of the lady’s feet went completely out from under her, and down she went in the mud. Thankfully she wasn’t hurt, and I recall thinking how easily that could have been me... there but for the grace of God go I. Now, my friend didn’t fall spiritually, and nothing was hurt but her pride, but Saul fell in a much different way on the road to Damascus...
“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"”
Acts 9:3-4 ESV
Most of us don’t hear Jesus speaking in an audible voice to us when we fall in faith, but we do hear the conviction of our spirit. We think to ourselves “How did I get myself into this situation!” It might be a lie, or maybe you struck out in anger at someone, but whatever the slip was, the result is the same... we are on our backsides, and need a hand to get up. “Jesus help me for I have sinned!”
“The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.”
Psalms 145:14 ESV
It is an embarrassing moment when we physically slip and fall, and immediately we look around to see if anyone saw us, but when we fall spiritually, we are absolutely confident that God has seen us, and the embarrassment turns instantly to fear, and remorse. In this spiritual moment our face will do more than turn red... it might turn ashen as we ask for forgiveness. This is repentance.
“Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.”
Psalms 51:9-11 ESV
In talking with Jesus, or God, we often fall down for a completely different reason... we fall on our faces in humility, contrition, prayer, and worship, but this is a very different type of falling, and often follows after a slip of faith. Even Jesus fell in this way, and He is our example...
“Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."”
Matthew 26:38-39 ESV
We pray that the Lord will keep us from falling, and ask Him to protect us from sin and temptation, but sometimes in a moment of absolute human frailty, we fall on our spiritual rears. Yet, when this occurs, all is not lost because we are promised that if we repent, and are truly penitent, then God will forgive us.
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
So... in that instant when our humanity overtakes us, and we fall down spiritually, disappointing God, and ourselves, there is hope in the promise of God to forgive us. Are you on your rear end spiritually right now? Perhaps you are walking around in fear of falling? Whichever it is lean on the Lord, because He will help you avoid slipping,
“You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.”
Psalms 18:36 ESV
and, in that rare case when you do... He is there to forgive.
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,”
Acts 3:19 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for keeping my steps certain, and me from slipping, but I thank you all the more for your forgiveness when in a moment of my inattention, I have stumbled from your way. Help me Holy Father, as I seek your forgiveness in repentance, and sincere contrition. Lead me Father, and give me courage as I ask for your guidance in obtaining forgiveness from any I might have wronged. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who steadies our feet, forgives us our sins, and leads us into our acts of giving, and obtaining, forgiveness. Great are you who removes us from temptation, and provides us with an escape. Praised be your name as your mercy engulfs us, and your grace, through Jesus, washes us clean, and purifies us. All glory is yours Heavenly Father, and greatly are you to be praised. Lift us up when we fall, and hold our hands so that we might remain steadied in you.
“"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.”
John 16:1 ESV
Rich Forbes