Don't Be Part of the Falling Away

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils (1 Timothy 4:1).

The Bible warns us that in the last days, before the rapture, there will be a falling away from the faith. Many of our elder citizens can see that happening now since things are much different from when they grew up, and statistics support them. A recent study shows that church attendance has fallen 7% in the last 5 years, and half of the congregations now have 65 or fewer attending. 4,500 Protestant churches closed their doors in 2019.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Paul saw the danger even in the early church. I imagine Satan is eager to take advantage of the current trends and for people to turn from their faith, think they don't need God, or put worldly things above spiritual things. He will work hard in the last days to pull as many away from God as he can. He wants as many as possible to share his eternal suffering.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love (Revelation 2:4).

John is told that the church at Ephesus has left their first love. They had fallen away, although they were still attending church. That's also true today. Too many of those attending church are just going through the motions, hoping to do just enough to get into heaven but not being devoted to God. They are lukewarm at best and trying to straddle the fence with one foot in the world and one foot in heaven. It won't work. We have to be totally God's, or we aren't His at all. Let's make sure that the Lord doesn't have something against us.

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:12).

As we look to a new year, let's make sure that we are strong in our faith, even amid the possible beginning of a great falling away. Let's renew our commitment to God and make sure we put Him first in our lives, far above anything else in importance. Let's cling to Him in hard times, and have such a close, personal relationship that it brings peace and joy no matter what's happening around us. If we do, this will be the best year ever.

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