THERE are two classes of backsliders, well illustrated by the Apostles Judas and Peter. Judas made a great profession without an atom of reality in it, and consequently an awful exposure took place. There are many degrees of likeness found to him, but they all agree in this—PROFESSION WITHOUT REALITY.
I would shrink from instituting a full parallel with many, for there are thousands, alas! who are deceiving themselves as well as others, many who imagine that they are on the road to heaven, when they are on the road to hell. Many honestly believe that observances of religion and blameless life will save their souls. Awful delusion!
Now the sooner such backslide from a false profession the better. Indeed such are more honest without any profession at all.
A girl came to me weeping one day, and said, " I am the leading singer in the chapel choir, and have passed as a Christian for eleven years; but since your meetings, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT I AM ONLY A SHAM. WHAT AM I TO DO? "
I told her she might as well drop her mask, give up her false profession, for sooner or later God would take it from her, turn to Christ in reality and be saved. Thank God, she did so, and is now a rejoicing Christian.
But there is the backslider like Peter. Do I address one such? Peter was a true man, loved his Lord, and found backsliding a painful course, and recovered himself by repentance and confession. You remember when you were converted, when you were happy. WHAT HAS CAUSED YOUR BACKSLIDING?
Intemperance, love of the world, love of money, sin allowed unjudged? The Lord desires your recovery. His everlasting love is set upon you. He will never give you up. He died for you. You are His, and His forever. He looked on Peter, He looks on you: He sought Peter's recovery, He seeks yours.
You are dishonoring Him and grieving His heart by staying away. What has He done that He deserves such treatment at your hands? The longer you stay away the harder will it be to retrace your steps. Get into the Lord's presence, make a full confession of your sin and folly, and get right with Him. He will give you strength, and show you what to do. But it must be His strength, for there is no strength in yourself You have found this out, surely.
" Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know, therefore, and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God " (Jer. 2. 19).
" Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings" (Jer. 3. 22).
" Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them UNTO THE END " (John 13. 1.)