JAMES 5:19-20
"If someone among you wanders away from the truth and is BROUGHT BACK, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins."
We all know someone who professed to love the Lord at some time in their lives and then they wandered away from the truth. In fact when this happens it can be very confusing and unsettling to our faith. We tend to believe that once you have tasted how sweet Jesus Christ is, where can you go? There are horrific examples of peers in the Christian community who have brought many souls to the alter of Christ, and then fallen off the path and separated themselves from God. Pastors and church leaders are not immune to wandering away from the truth. What happens to them?
I think of a very close boyhood friend who tried to bring the "Good News" to me in high school. I rejected him and his message and failed to understand, the beginning of Wisdom is the fear of God. As life would have it, I came to the Lord and my entire family has been wonderfully changed by the Lord. I have been saved and redeemed and have eternal life. I can not even imagine what my life would be like with out the Lord being first in everything I think or do. I saw my friend recently and assumed he was still a believer. He was not, he even proudly professed to be agnostic. What a reversal of belief. I love the Lord, he does not, what happened?
This is a classic example of someone among us that wanders away from the truth. He made a choice and it was to separate himself from the Lord. I tried to explain that he was dead in his sin and did not even know or understand it. I urged him to consider his position, that if incorrect, would lead to his death and eternal damnation. I reminded him that as young boys he had used that argument on me and I too had refused to believe it. Still, it is ironic that we had changed positions and now if I am wrong, no harm is done. If he is wrong the consequences are death! I pray today that he may be brought back and that he will be saved from death and that he will be forgiven of his many sins. The Lord answers prayers and I believe this one will be heard!
