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Spiritual
Retrogression
That we are spiritual at one time does not guarantee
that we shall always remain so. There may come, if we
permit it, a time of retrogression. Our zeal may flag, our
love grow cold, and our interest may be lost, and we may
become indifferent. "Therefore we ought to give the
more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest
at any time we should let them slip" (Hebrews 2:1).
Water, when unconfined, always flows downhill, and so do
the natural currents of life. Serving the Lord, like any
other good thing, requires exertion. If we grow careless
and merely drift along, the current will always lead us
farther away from God. Progress Godward is always progress
upward.
How many who once were afire for God are now cold and
indifferent! How many who once were bright lights are now
only smoking wicks! Remember that what we once were does
not give evidence of what we are now. Spiritual progress
results from conformity to the laws of progress, and
spiritual retrogression from lack of conformity to these
laws. Physical growth is dependent upon the taking in and
assimilation of new materials by an already organized
structure. Spiritual growth depends upon our taking in
spiritual materials and utilizing them properly in our
development. We are commanded to be filled with the
Spirit. If we keep so filled, there will be no
retrogression.
There are a number of things that contribute to
drifting away from God. Let us consider some of them.
Neglect of prayer and of the reading of God’s Word.
When we neglect these, we cannot but grow indifferent and
fail to make spiritual progress. When we neglect these
things, we soon lose our relish for them; and when that
relish is lost, it becomes still more easy to neglect
them. In this way we shut up the channel of grace and
thereby prevent its flowing into our hearts.
Neglect of attending meetings. When people grow
careless about assembling themselves with God’s people,
it is an evidence that they are drifting. Fervent love for
God gives us a fervent love for his people; and a fervent
love for them brings a fervent desire to be with them. A
loss of interest, either through neglect or by letting
another interest come in ahead of God, draws the soul
away. We can prosper spiritually only so long as God has
first place in our affections and first place in our
interests. Beware of anything that comes between you and
God, to draw your interest away from him. It will be
ruinous to your soul.
Drawing away from duty. When people are first saved, as
a rule they have a great zeal to work for God. They prefer
doing that to anything else. Their souls delight in it. It
is their meat to do his will. So long as they are in this
attitude, they will prosper; they will steadily grow in
grace and in the knowledge of our Lord. But when their
zeal begins to cool and their love becomes less strong,
there is often a drawing back from duty. Before, they
needed no urging; they were ready. Now, duty is irksome;
they go about it reluctantly. They prefer that someone
else work while they look on. They serve God from a sense
of duty rather than from a sense of love. If we saw these
things in their right aspect and their true meaning, we
should see them as great danger-posts along the way
warning us of the trouble ahead. Such a change always
indicates spiritual retrogression. It shows that the soul,
instead of becoming more spiritual, is becoming less so.
Hardening the conscience until it loses its tenderness
toward God, and so becoming careless in life. In the
beginning of our new-born life, we have a tender
conscience toward God. We ought to care for this tender
conscience. We ought to follow it carefully, and keep it
tender toward God. It must, however, be regulated by
common sense and good judgment, or it will become a tyrant
and rule our lives in a way to make us miserable. This is
quite different from having that careful earnest desire to
please God. When we are drifting, we are not so much
concerned about pleasing God as we were before, and we
become more concerned about pleasing ourselves. Beware of
the increase of this self-pleasing disposition. It is
always a mark of spiritual degeneration.
Self-indulgence. No matter what direction this may
take, it is sure to bring evil results. Partaking of
worldly amusements, allowing pride to come into the soul
and gratifying it with worldly apparel, luxurious living,
and all similar things are destructive to spirituality.
Going back on our obligations. When we make God a
promise to do something he asks of us, he expects us to
live up to it; and not only does he expect it, but he will
require it. Therefore, if we draw back from that which we
have promised him, or if we withhold from him the service
that we have promised him, we shall do it at great cost to
our souls. There are thousands of souls who draw back in
this way. They make promises to God, and when they make
them, they mean to fulfill them; but as time goes on and
they do not fulfill them, they grow careless about it, or
indifferent, or unwilling, or for some other reason fail
to perform what they promised. They draw back from being
wholly the Lord’s. They want to do something for
themselves. They want to choose their own way and make
their own plans. God, of course, permits them to do this,
but it is at the loss of their spirituality and of his
blessing upon their souls. In the end, if they persist, it
will mean their eternal ruin.
Oh, beware of drifting! Beware of carelessness and
neglect. Beware of drawing back from what you have
promised God. Beware of anything and everything that makes
you less spiritual. Keep this thought in mind: You have
but one chance to gain heaven. If you miss that one
chance, you have missed all. Press forward; make some gain
each day. You will not be able to see that you have made a
gain every day, but if you walk humbly before God and do
your duty, lovingly and faithfully, you will each day draw
a little nearer God. He has said, "Draw nigh to God,
and he will draw nigh to you." Every step we make
toward God, he makes a step toward us. It is just like
walking toward your reflection in a mirror. Every time you
step toward your reflection, it seems to step towards you,
so that one step brings you two steps nearer. Just so each
step you take toward God brings him two steps nearer you.
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